CSEC Slams 100% University Fee Hike, Calls for Gradual Approach

Malawi Exclusive

The Civil Society Education Coalition has condemned the decision by Malawi’s public universities to double tuition fees for generic undergraduate students, saying the move will put severe pressure on poor households already struggling with the high cost of living.

According to CSEC, from the 2027/2028 academic year University of Malawi (UNIMA), Lilongwe University of Natural Resources (LUANAR), Mzuzu University (MZUNI) , Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), and Malawi University Business and Applied Science (MUBAS), will raise fees from K650,000 to K1.3 million per academic year.

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) will increase fees from K1 million to K2 million.

The coalition also noted that universities have introduced a K60,000 medical insurance contribution, up from K2,000.

While acknowledging the financial challenges universities face, CSEC said the data presented by the institutions shows the cost of training one student has risen sharply.

According to the coalition, it now costs between K4.8 million at MZUNI and K20.7 million at KUHeS to train a student, yet government subvention per student ranges from only K1.5 million to K5.2 million.

CSEC said public universities require K536.7 billion to operate effectively in the 2026/2027 financial year, but the approved government funding ceiling is only K133.6 billion.

That, the coalition explained, represents roughly 25% of the actual funding requirement.

Because of this, CSEC argued that a 100% tuition increase in one academic year is too abrupt.

According to the coalition, such a sharp hike will impose severe financial pressure on families and risks excluding academically deserving students from poor and vulnerable backgrounds.

The coalition also warned about the impact on student financing.

According to CSEC, the K42 billion allocated to the Higher Education Students’ Loans and Grants Board for tuition and upkeep of about 40,000 students will now be stretched further. More of the allocation will go toward tuition, leaving less for student upkeep unless government increases the budget.

On medical insurance, CSEC said the current arrangement should remain in place.

According to the coalition, introducing the K60,000 contribution as a separate mandatory payment without comprehensive affordability analysis would further increase the burden on students and their families.

To address the financing challenge, CSEC recommended that government progressively increase public investment in higher education in line with inflation, enrolment growth, and the actual cost of training students.

The coalition also said the HESLGB budget should be reviewed upwards to adequately cover both tuition and reasonable upkeep for financially deserving students.

According to the statement, universities should diversify income through research, innovation, commercial ventures, alumni giving, endowment funds, and scholarships for disadvantaged students.

CSEC further called on government to review the current policy framework governing public university tuition fees.

According to the coalition, Malawi needs a predictable and evidence-based annual adjustment mechanism with modest increases linked to inflation, instead of disruptive one-off hikes of 100% or more.

The coalition also stressed that any tuition adjustment or major financing reform must be preceded by meaningful consultation. According to CSEC, students, parents, government, Parliament, university councils, civil society, and development partners should be involved, and the financial modeling underpinning proposed adjustments should be published.

CSEC concluded that universities must be financially sustainable, but access to higher education must remain equitable.

According to the coalition, Malawi should not be forced to choose between quality and access, because both are indispensable for achieving Malawi 2063.