By Rose Cross Mahorya
Technical colleges in the country have been asked to consider diversifying their revenue base to ably complement government funding for smooth running of the institutions.
Minister of Labour Agnes Nyalonje was speaking Wednesday in Mzuzu when she visited Mzuzu Technical College, following government’s move to send students in the 2023/24 academic year to the college as part of Skills for a Vibrant Economy (SAVE) Project which is financed by World Bank.
“After going around, I have noted that the institution has potential to grow and develop its own revenue generation sources. They make beautiful and quality desks and if produced on a large scale, can help the institution generate a lot of money,” said Nyalonje.
While acknowledging the challenges that technical colleges in the country are facing, Nyalonje assured the institutions that delayed processing of funding and shortage of qualified technical instructors will soon be addressed.
“As a ministry, we will work with responsible officers to ensure that funding processes are concluded in good time since we know how stressing it can be for institutions such as this to run without funding.
“While plans to open a Technical Teacher’s Training College are under way, government is considering partnering with other institutions of higher learning, such as Malawi University of Science and Technology for training of the technical instructors,” said Nyalonje.
Earlier, Principal for Mzuzu Technical College, Julius Phiri, said the institution owes suppliers about K70 million as it has only received funding only for three months out of the required 10 months for the 2023/24 academic year.
“This means that we have been using funds for other activities to support the 339 students which were enrolled through SAVE Project, a situation that has put us under pressure.
“We also have a lot of unfulfilled vacant government posts and establishments within the institution. We get low training subsidy fund besides having dilapidated equipment and infrastructure as some of the challenges faced by the institution,” said Phiri.
Phiri, however, was quick to say that the institution will consider implementing some of the ministry’s recommendations to ensure that the college has sustainable source of money which can be generated in forms of revenue.
The college, which is grant aided and run by the Roman Catholic’s Mzuzu Diocese, has 650 students, out of which 320 are boarders. It offers 12 courses through its three departments of Construction, Engineering and Commerce.
