CFTC investigating ‘unconscionable’ fees in private schools
The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) says it has noted with concern that some private schools are demanding parents and guardians of standard eight students, who will be sitting for the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE), to pay full third term fees.
This is regardless of the fact that the period that the students will be at school before the commencement of their examinations in early September, is less than two weeks.
CFTC has expressed its concerns in a statement it issued on Friday, which has been signed by the acting executive director of the commission, Apoche Itimu.
According to the statement, some schools have even threatened to withhold access to the students’ MANEB Examination Identity Cards should the full school fees not be paid, which would result in the students not being able to sit for the exams.
CFTC says it has since commenced investigations against some of these schools for engaging in what it describes as “unconscionable conduct”.
The commission says such conduct is tantamount to unfair business and trade practices that should not be entertained.
“It should be noted that, under Section 43(1)(g) of the Competition and Fair Trading Act (CFTA), business enterprises are prohibited from engaging in unconscionable conduct in carrying out trade in goods or services.
“The commission, hereby, issues a warning to the schools that are engaging in the conduct of withholding MANEB Examination IDs, or making any threats to that effect, to categorically refrain from that conduct.
“Engaging in conduct that is likely to affect the students’ access to the examinations, or in any way likely to affect their preparations for the examinations, whether physically or emotionally, likely amounts to unconscionable conduct,” the statement reads in part.
CFTC adds that the schools conduct does not only infringe on the student’s rights as consumers, but also affects their general right to education.
“On the part of school fees, the commission would call upon the schools to engage in effective dialogue with the parents and guardians and reach an amicable resolution with regard to the amount of fees to be paid, bearing in mind that the students will only use the school facilities for less than half of the term.
“The commission hereby also calls on the parents and general public affected by these malpractices to report to the commission any acts of unfair conducts that they or their wards may have been or are being subjected to in this regard,” concludes the statement.
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CFTC is totally wrong. Fees in schools whether public or private is paid per term. If the parents / guardians are doing things in good faith; let them pay the fees for the term regardless the number of days the students spend in school.
Please note that schools incur costs even when the students are on holiday. The utility bills, salaries for staff which have to be paid at the time schools close.
Iwe BenJones 87, kodi ngati ma school fees ku private ndi okwera, bwanji osawatumiza ku sukulu yaboma. Alipo amene akukuumirizani? Munthu sungakwanitse kugula petrol, pali nzeru kugula galimoto? CFTC should redeem itself. Instead of issuing empty threats against private schools, they should start addressing real issues. Mitengo ya zinthu yakwera udyo. Koma School fees idakali yotsika. Now instead of addressing those who have raised prices unjustifiably, mukufuna kulimbana ndi amene sanakweze mtengo? Mukusuta chani kumeneko? Paja mwadzadzako macadet okhaokha eti? Can Chakwera please urgently remove the rubble that is at CFTC. Macadet atasa. These cadets want private schools to fail… Read more »
Remember that government teacher is paid from citizens tax, private school teacher is paid from school fees proceeds, government teacher go on sit in or strike as and when they want, private school teacher are much more predictable they teach with the school calendar/syllabus in mind, if the calendar allows some classes to write an exam two weeks into the term,please don’t blame the school for demanding full school fees. Ask government to subsdise. The only area I totally agree with reduction is the boarding fees, not tution.
Only if after attaining multi party and maintained the standards Kamuzu set we should have not been lamenting like this. In Rwanda people who start private schools make losses because parents are sending kids to public schools whose standards are high. In 1994 the government embarked on killing the standards of education.
Inu a CFTC zimene mwayambazo ndiye zachamba. Kodi ndi inu ouma mitu choncho? You think private schools are charities? Mukuona ngati ana asukulu salipira third term, aphunzitsi tiwalipira ndi chani? Mukuona ngati sukulu isiya kulipira ma overheads? Vitsiru za anthu CFTC!
Ntchito kulubwalubwa basi. Katundu akukwera daily, olo CFTC kuchitapo kanthu olo. Mukungoononga ndalama za boma basi!
Grounds , school and Teachers have to be paid even after standard 8 students leave school. Seems unfair but the fees are calculated on a yearly basis and divided by three for the ease of budgeting. Alternative would be to force patents in standard 8 to pay higher fees in the first two terms. Agree that students should not be held back from writing exams. Parents must be understanding that the schools only survive because of fees paid.
What to those who already paid?
What are the contact details of CFTC? I’m the victim.
Private schools fees are to high. Parents are really suffering. Very unfortunate that government is quite about it. And we expect our children to educate. Pls investigate.
This took with no any discussions with parents/guardians. Recieving a letter from school as a warning of fees settlement is always an embarrassment to children since they cant focus on their school work thinking that theirs parents/guardians are failures to send them to school. Imagine with this corona pandemic paying the whole term fees for less than 10 days in class. Kings foundation adakonza
Some have paid indeed k90.000 for only 9 days as a whole after being warned that if this not settled by their specific date, a ward will be sent home up to the settlement of the said fees. This is totally unfair.