Polytechnic to open January 30
The Polytechnic, which is a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima), is set to open on January 30 six months after it was closed due to disagreements over fees structure.
A statement that Unima issued yesterday signed by its Registrar, Benedicto Malunga, indicates that first year female students selected into science courses at the college should report for a bridging course on January 30 while the rest of first year students and continuing students should report on compass on February 6 and 13 respectively.
Unima Spokesperson Peter Mitunda confirmed the statement.
Ironically, the statement indicates that the students will pay the new tuition fees which they have been battling against with the college.
The students obtained an injunction against the implementation of the new fees structure arguing the new tuition cannot apply on them as they are still in the 2015/ 2016 academic year and not the 2016/2017 in which the new fees structure were meant to start being implemented.
The students want to continue paying K55, 000 and K275 for generic and mature students respectively which the college refused to accept.
The students took the matter to court where they were granted an injunction stopping the college from implementing the fees structure.
However, the statement indicates that the students will pay the new fees regime.
“First year generic students will pay K400, 000.00 while continuing generic students will pay K350, 000.00 and mature entry students K900, 000.00,” reads the statement.
Polytechnic Student’s Union President Frank Msiska was not available for comment while Unima Students’ Union President, Tiwonge Sikwese, said he had not received the communication from the University Office on the opening of the college.
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