NEWS:

8 Jun, 2015


Deligates during the site seeing of the contruction site
The Norwegian government through the Infrastructure Development Programme has pumped in 10,000,000 USD of which part of the funds will be used for construction of a 212 bed space hostel for female students.

Speaking on Monday during the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the construction of the hostel, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology Honourable Vincent Ghambi MP said the support is timely and supports government National Education Sector Plan (NESP).


“The hostel will allow more female students to access higher education, thereby contributing to several sustainable development goals including those on education, health and poverty reduction,” said the Deputy Minister.

He said government is aware of the challenges affecting access to higher education in the country and has embraced Public Private Partnership solution to address students’ accommodation challenges.

“This approach will allow the private sector to invest in public universities especially in accommodation hence reducing challenges that students are facing,” he said.

In his remarks Royal Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi, Kikkan Haugen said the hostel which has been designed in an African community concept will provide a good standard accommodation to the female students.

He said currently most female students at LUANAR are accommodated in substandard private accommodations.

On another note, the Ambassador challenged LUANAR management and students to actively take part in developing Malawi as well as contribute to address some of the agricultural challenges that the country is facing.

He said a large portion of the country’s population face food insecurity every year as a result of climate change and which might be worse this year.

“LUANAR should actively contribute in addressing this fundamental problem. The capacity and solutions are already there but what is needed is to implement them,” said Haugen.

Apart from the hostel, part of the funds will be used to construct a new teaching and learning facilities, rehabilitation of existing teaching and learning buildings as well as improvement of water and sanitation facilities.

Written By: Patricia Nkhoma Ngwale