Spontaneous introduction of Christian Private Universities in Malawi and the quality of education provided

Abstract

Christian private higher education institutions in Malawi are established to address the dire need for higher education of qualified Malawi’s populace who are left out due to the acute shortage of space in the few existing public universities. Approximately 20,000 students qualify for university education every year, and yet the two Malawian public universities can only absorb about 8,000 students per year. For example, in 2008, only 38.1 percent of the students who passed Malawi School Certificate of Education were admitted into public universities. This means that 61.9 percent of the students eligible for higher education could not be admitted due to limited space (Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, 2009). Again in 2013, 10,328 candidates passed the University of Malawi Entrance Examinations, but only 1, 905 candidates were selected to continue their studies at the university (University of Malawi, 2013). At Mzuzu University, another public university in Malawi, had 5,161 candidates who qualified for entry into its programs in 2011, only 366 were selected to study at the university (Muzuzu University, 2011). The scenario above therefore justifies the introduction of private universities to complement the efforts that the government is making. While it is a fact that the increasing number of private institutions is providing access to higher education to many eligible students, the spontaneous introduction and/or opening of such institutions poses a lot of challenges as regards the quality of education that they offer. There is always that urgency to open the institutions, and it appears that adequate planning is not given a thought. In some cases, these Christian higher education institutions develop as a reaction to a situation which is basically perceived as doing the prospective students a “favor”, but in most cases, the students are given a raw deal. Institutions are so much in a hurry to start running without putting in place the necessary amenities. These institutions are characterized by low quality infrastructure, inadequate staff, equipment, teaching and learning materials, and other necessities. For instance, one institution that was part of this study started without adequate classrooms, hostels, library, science laboratory equipment, and many others. Initially, the institution was sharing resources with a secondary school, and the resources were not even fit for university education. Much later, the proprietors closed the secondary school and the university took over the premises completely. Even though the situation has improved and keeps on improving, the institution still has a few more things to accomplish in order to meet all the requirements laid down by the National Council of Higher Education in Malawi. The pattern is the same for several other Christian private institutions that have been established in Malawi so far. Some have turned secondary schools into universities while others have turned primary school teachers’ training colleges into degree granting institutions, while others turned offices into universities. This paper argues that spontaneous introduction of Christian private higher education institutions affects the quality of education that such institutions provide. There is a correlation between proper planning of the establishment of institutions of higher education and the quality of education that the institutions can offer. Therefore, there is need for adequate planning if the private higher education institutions are to offer quality and credible education, thereby gaining the confidence of the members of the general public, as well as the accrediting bodies of higher education.