Promises of free education evaporate
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The Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested top government officials and other contractors in 2002. Anti Corruption Bureau records show that says part one of the case was concluded in 2006 where those found guilty were convicted by the court. ACBs investigations officer Lezita Kumitengo wrote in ABC's newsletter that the four accused include Sam Safuli, former Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education; Esther Kathumba, Managing Director of Tapempha Building Contractors; her husband and they Managing Director of Khristunafe Building contractors. "Others were Elson Snowden Jiya, Quantity Surveyor at Education Physical Facilities and Development Unit, and Richard Thombozi, Education Methods Advisor," Kumitengo says. She said that Thombozi passed away before the trial was concluded. She says Safuli was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour for aiding and abetting Hendrick Kathumba to falsely obtain 100, 000 from the Ministry of Education for no work done. Safuli appealed he conviction and sentence after he spent months in jail. He is now a free man. Until now, some people feel funds channeled to the ministry of education are being misused. However, Olive Masanza, the current Deputy Minister of Education Science and Technology, downplayed reports that her ministry is still corrupt despite the war against the vice by the current Dr Bingu wa Mutharika administration. "I have to investigate first,' Masanzasaid. “Otherwise I haven't smelled any corrupt act." She says the government will construct new school blocks across the country with funding from international development partners. "World Bank and GTZ have pledged support to construct new school blocks across the country." Masanza says. "Parliament is yet to approve K21 billion kwacha in 2007-2008 budget for payment of salaries procurement of learning materials and construction of school blocks. However, George Jobe, who works for Creative Center for Community Mobilization said the government should follow the right procedures of procuring learning materials and awarding of contracts. "The procurement system and awards had some loopholes in the past," Jobe says. He says that the government had no procurement institution. "With the office of the Director of Public Procurement in place some of the anomalies reduced." Jobe says. Deputy Minister of Education Olive Masanza says the system will be unique because the Canadian international development agency (CIDA) will procure learning materials for schools on behalf of government. But until that time - if, indeed, it ever comes - dirty little knees and elbows will be embracing the cold, wet ground while the birds above look for the best targets before the rains come to wash them clean. |
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| By George Mhango, Noel Mkubwi and Angela Mkandawire. | |||||
| Six years after a national scandal shook the foundations of education in Malawi, students are still paying the price for corruption. Thousands of students lack the basic materials they need - including classrooms with walls, floors and ceilings. What begins like a normal day to Aubrey Adamson, 13, ends up being a dull day due to the learning environment at his school. He attends his education at the Catholic institute primary school in Blantyre. The school has an enrolment of 7,000 pupils out of which at least 2,000 learn under trees as a result of in adequate classrooms. "We learn under trees during hot, rainy and cold seasons,” the standard five student said. "This becomes worse during the hot season or summer where we are forced to knock off from school early.” There are 25 classrooms, but 98 normal class sessions. The school committee requires every pupil to pay K20 as part of a development fund. Many students and their families are questioning the government's promise of a free education has any meaning at all. The headmaster of the school, MacArthur Khumbanyiwa, justifies K20 payment. Khumbanyiwa says the school development committee collects monthly the funds to pay for electricity, water and teacher salaries. "At the end of the school calendar, the funds collected add up to K126,000,” he said, “which is not enough to cater for construction of school blocks.” Malawi Observer reporters learned that most of the public primary schools in the country lack adequate classrooms. Chinsapo primary school in Lilongwe, has only 14 classroom to accommodate an enrollment of more than 5,000 pupils. Teachers there have improvised chalkboards on abrick-walled fence for teaching the students. Grace Katopola is the headmaster of the school. She says the school management thought of improvising the brick fence as classes by erecting blackboards on the walls to provide more classroom space. George Jobe is an education activist. He says that most primary schools across the country do not have enough school blocks due to loss of confidence by donor partners in providing development funds to government due to corruption. Jobe cites the 2001 Ministry of Education corruption scandal in which a total of K18 million went down the drain to contractors who were assigned to construct school blocks, but never finished the job. "Over K187 million was lost in 2001 after some government officials connived with contractors to defraud the government of the money that was meant for construction and rehabilitation of school blocks in the country." Jobe says. |
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