The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has suspended accreditation of Pentecostal Life University (PLU) due to non-compliance with Minimum Standards for Higher Education Institutions in Malawi.
In a statement released by NCHE, PLU has been ordered to stop offering all unregistered programmes immediately.
Some of the unregistered programmes include; Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication, Diploma in Procurement and Supply Chain Management and Diploma in Accounting and Finance.
The Council has also ordered PLU to stop recruiting students into all its programmes.
The Council further says it will lift the suspension of institutional accreditation when PLU has demonstrated compliance with Minimum Standards for higher education institutions.
Multi-award winning comedian Jamil Sheriff Chikakuda popularly know as ‘Che Mandota’ has teamed up with his brother Yusuf Chikakuda for the establishment of a charity initiative named ‘Our Children Our Future.’
Speaking at the launch of the initiative at Phalasito Primary School in Rumphi district, Mandota said the project aims at improving access to quality primary education in rural areas through the provision of learning and studying supplies to economically challenged pupils.
He said, “Today, we have awarded top performing learners in all classes here at Phalasito Primary School. We have also started process of procuring school uniforms for learners at the school.”
Mandota further revealed that the initial Funding for the project has come from their savings and contributions from his followers towards his birthday day on Friday last week.
The comedian has since thanked his followers for the support but has pleaded for more help so that more learners are assisted.
The Malawi Government is set to gazette a new minimum wage on May 1, with workers and employers holding different views on the proposed increase.
Minister of Labour Peter Dimba confirmed that the minimum wage review process has increased, with the government targeting International Labour Day for gazetting the new rates.
However, Minister Dimba declined to reveal the final figures, stating it would be unethical before official publication.
“We are done and May 1 is our target, but you know it involves paperwork.It would be unethical of me to leak the figures before the gazetting.”said Dimba
Dimba
The Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) has proposed a 100 percent increase in the minimum wage, pushing for it to rise to K180,000 from the current K90,000. On the other hand, the Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (Ecam) tabled a 40 percent increase, suggesting K126,000.
MCTU president Charles Kumchenga argued that the workers deserve a higher wage, while Ecam executive director George Khaki cited economic hardships, including inflation, forex shortages, low production, and weak demand, as reasons for a more modest increase.
The Centre for Social Concern (CfSC) reports that the cost of living for a family of six stood at K503,876 in February, well beyond both the current and proposed minimum wages. This highlights the growing pressure on workers and the need for a living wage that can meet the basic needs of families.
The government’s decision on the minimum wage will have significant implications for workers, employers, and the broader economy. While workers are pushing for a substantial increase, employers are cautioning against a hike that could exacerbate economic challenges.
The Labour Minister has the authority to revise the minimum wage without a binding agreement from the Tripartite Labour Advisory Council (TLAC), provided the process follows due consultation.
The Malawian Association of French Teachers (AMEF) has strongly condemned a teacher who benefited from a French government scholarship but chose not to return to Malawi after completing her training in France.
The teacher’s decision has sparked widespread outrage within the educational community, with AMEF describing it as a betrayal of the trust placed in her.
According to AMEF, the teacher was part of a group of ten educators selected to undergo training in France, aimed at strengthening their professional capacities and improving the quality of French language teaching in Malawi.
However, while nine of her colleagues returned to Malawi after completing their training, the teacher in question chose to remain in France, citing no valid reasons for her decision.
AMEF Vice-President Fwasani Gondwe expressed deep disappointment and frustration over the teacher’s actions, stating that they not only compromised the integrity of the cooperation program but also undermined the trust that French partners have placed in AMEF over several years.
“This is a clear case of a teacher who benefited from a scholarship but failed to honor her commitments,” Gondwe said. “We strongly condemn her actions and urge her to reconsider her decision and return to Malawi, where her skills and knowledge are desperately needed,” he added.
AMEF has revealed that the teacher’s decision to remain in France without a valid residence permit could have serious personal consequences, including expulsion, a ban on returning to France, and damage to her professional dignity.
Furthermore, the association noted that this situation could compromise the teacher’s career prospects, both in France and in Malawi, where she was expected to contribute to the development of French as a foreign language.
The controversy surrounding the teacher’s decision has raised concerns about the potential impact on educational cooperation programs between France and Malawi.
AMEF fears that this incident could cast a shadow over the credibility of Malawian teachers internationally and lead to stricter conditions for academic mobility for Malawian colleagues.
“We are deeply concerned about the implications of this incident on our partnership with France and the future of our teachers,” Gondwe said, adding that, “We urge our partners to understand that this is an isolated incident and not a reflection of the values and commitment of Malawian teachers.”
AMEF has commended the nine other teachers who participated in the training and returned to Malawi within the specified timeframe, citing their exemplary attitude as a model of responsibility and professional commitment.
“We appreciate the dedication and commitment of our teachers who honored their commitments and returned to Malawi,” Gondwe said.
“Their actions demonstrate the value of international cooperation and capacity building in improving the quality of education in Malawi,”he added.
The incident highlights the importance of adhering to the terms and conditions of scholarships and the potential consequences of failing to do so.
As AMEF noted, the future of training scholarships for Malawian teachers could be called into question if such incidents become more frequent.
The Malawian government has been emphasizing the importance of capacity building in the education sector, particularly in the teaching of foreign languages such as French.
The government’s efforts to strengthen the teaching of French in Malawi have been supported by the French government, which has provided scholarships and training opportunities for Malawian teachers.
In light of this incident, AMEF has urged the Malawian government to take steps to ensure that teachers who benefit from international training opportunities are aware of their responsibilities and commitments.
“We need to ensure that our teachers understand the importance of honoring their commitments and contributing to the development of education in Malawi,” Gondwe said, adding that,”We will work with the government to strengthen our capacity building programs and ensure that our teachers are equipped to make a positive impact on our education sector.”
The Malawian educational community will be watching closely to see how this situation unfolds and what implications it may have for future collaborations between Malawi and France in the field of education.
AMEF’s condemnation of the rogue teacher’s decision serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible behavior and adherence to the terms and conditions of scholarships.
As the association noted, the incident has the potential to impact negatively on educational cooperation programs between France and Malawi, and it is essential that the teacher concerned takes steps to regularize her situation and mitigate any potential consequences.
The ball is now in the court of the teacher concerned, and it remains to be seen whether she will reconsider her decision and return to Malawi to contribute to the development of French language teaching in the country.
One thing is certain, however: AMEF will continue to uphold the values of responsibility and professionalism that have guided the association since its inception.
President Lazarus Chakwera has stirred a national conversation after publicly denouncing Malawi’s controversial quota system for university admissions, branding it an “evil policy” that has sown seeds of division, discrimination, and inequality among Malawians for decades.
Speaking candidly during a recent engagement with education stakeholders and youth leaders in the Northern Region, the president did not mince words in expressing his long-standing opposition to the system, which he said contradicts the values of meritocracy, national cohesion, and fairness.
Chakwera
The quota system, originally designed as an affirmative action framework to ensure equitable regional representation in higher education, has become one of the most polarizing policies in the country.
Introduced in the 1980s, it was meant to address historical imbalances and disparities in access to tertiary education across Malawi’s regions.
However, over time, the system has been widely criticized for entrenching regionalism, disadvantaging students from certain areas—particularly the Northern Region—and compromising academic standards.
President Chakwera’s remarks come at a time when the debate around equity versus equality in education has resurfaced with renewed urgency.
Addressing the concerns of young people who feel disenfranchised by the policy, the president affirmed his government’s commitment to building a society where every child, regardless of their region of origin, has an equal opportunity to succeed based on merit.
“Any policy that punishes children simply because of where they come from is not only unjust but evil,” Chakwera declared.
“We must be bold enough to do away with anything that divides us and perpetuates inequality.”
The president’s firm position was received with both applause and caution.
For many in the Northern Region—who have long argued that the quota system is a form of institutionalized discrimination—the president’s remarks were a long-awaited validation of their struggle.
Critics of the system argue that it has disproportionately affected high-performing students from the North, denying them university placements despite excellent grades, while students from other regions with lower marks were admitted.
The resulting disillusionment has not only bred resentment but has also driven many bright minds out of the country in search of fairer opportunities.
Yet, defenders of the quota system argue that it has helped open doors for students from underserved districts in the Central and Southern Regions who might otherwise be marginalized due to historical disadvantages in access to quality primary and secondary education.
They maintain that without such a system, Malawi risks entrenching elitism and regional monopolies in education, especially in a context where resources and opportunities remain unevenly distributed.
But Chakwera pushed back against this rationale, stating that efforts to promote inclusivity in education should not come at the cost of excellence and merit.
Instead of applying a blanket policy that penalizes certain groups, the president urged stakeholders to invest more in improving the quality of education across all regions—from primary schools to community day secondary schools—so that all children are equipped to compete fairly.
“Equality of opportunity must start at the grassroots.
Let us uplift our rural schools, equip our teachers, and make sure that every Malawian child receives the same quality of education,” he said.
In recent years, Malawi has seen various education reforms aimed at enhancing access and quality.
However, structural challenges such as overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, poor infrastructure, and resource gaps have continued to widen the educational divide.
President Chakwera emphasized that the answer does not lie in punitive quota mechanisms, but in bold, systemic investments that level the playing field for all learners.
The president’s speech has reinvigorated discussions in the education sector and among political commentators.
Some observers see his stance as a signal that government may soon initiate formal processes to abolish the quota system altogether or replace it with a more nuanced policy that balances regional equity with individual merit.
Others, however, remain skeptical, warning that past governments have made similar promises but failed to act decisively due to political sensitivities.
Meanwhile, the president’s words have been interpreted by many as a call to unity—a reminder that Malawi’s strength lies in its diversity, and that national progress requires the inclusion and empowerment of all its citizens.
He challenged Malawians to rise above parochial interests and confront inherited injustices with honesty and resolve.
“We must break the chains of the past,” Chakwera said.
“Let us not allow any child’s dreams to be shattered because of a policy born out of fear and favoritism.”
For students like Annie Banda from Mzuzu, who scored top marks in her Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) exams but was denied a university spot due to the quota allocation, the president’s message came as a ray of hope.
“I feel seen,” she said.
“For once, a leader is acknowledging our pain.
I just pray they act on it.”
As Malawi moves forward, the fate of the quota system remains uncertain.
What is certain, however, is that the president has ignited a necessary national dialogue about fairness, unity, and the kind of future Malawians want for their children.
Whether the bold words will translate into concrete action remains to be seen—but for now, President Chakwera’s denouncement of the quota system as evil has marked a pivotal moment in the country’s journey toward educational justice.
