Bunda college to be re-opened: Kwapata’s position abolished
Bunda College of Agriculture, a constituent college of the new Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) will be re-opened by mid-September after its indefinite closure on July 27, this year.
Director of High Education in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Professor Dixie Maluwa Banda disclosed this in an interview with the Malawi News Agency (Mana) recently.
“We believe that all the problems which were there between the students and the college management have now been resolved therefore the college can be re-opened and classes will resume very soon, probably mid-September,” said Professor Maluwa Banda.
Professor Maluwa Banda further indicated that LUANAR council has already been established with Professor Zachary Kasomekera as its chairperson.
“The council members have been appointed and as of now, it is fully operational, it will be responsible for appointing senior members of the University such as the Vice Chancellor,” said Professor Maluwa Banda.
According to him, the fact that the council and the chairperson have been appointed, the position of Principal – held by Moses Kwapata – ceases to exist as there will be a vice chancellor running the institution.
“However, the chance of Kwapata being accorded a new position as Vice chancellor of LUANAR as it was reported earlier on is very doubtful as the post was advertised and the interviews were conducted,” he said.
Professor Maluwa Banda also said other senior posts were advertised and the interviews have already been done.
When asked to comment on the report that students will be responsible for payment of the damages caused during the demonstration which amounted to 1.4 million, Professor Maluwa Banda said the issue has nothing to do with their ministry rather, the college management will be in a position to decide how to go about with the issue.
A fourth year Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture and Fisheries, Charles Makuya said the decision to reopen the school is a welcome idea.
“We are losing concentration on our education because we have been frustrated as we are just staying idle at our homes, this really affects our performance,” said Makuya.
A memo posted on Bunda Column says that the college has new Heads of Department with immediate effect from 1st September, 2012 which seems to be a welcome development by a number of students.
Students at the college started boycotting classes demanding the removal of their Principal, Professor Moses Kwapata whom they accuse of unprofessional conduct and this resulted in the indefinite closure of the college on 27 July, 2012 to pave way for the resolution of the impasse between the students and the college leadership.
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