A PIECE OF MY MIND: Private schools not a private | Kennie Cliff Ntonga

Saturday, 28 November 2009
Source: Malawi News

When Malawi’s economy was liberalized at the dawn of multiparty democracy in 1994, the state eased its grip on the provision of some key services. Private operators then rose to the occasion to either complement or compete with government in providing such services.

One of the sectors that had instantly attracted hordes of both local and foreign investors was education. Operating private secondary schools instantly became a lucrative business.

With thousands of deserving pupils failing to find their way into the corridors of the few available public secondary schools, private secondary schools had a ready market.

By the twinkling of the eye, masses of carpenters, drivers, clerks, politicians, grocers, petrol attendants and others had risen to the occasion. In no time they had all become proud owners of the private secondary schools scattered in all corners of the country.

While some operators had constructed own structures, others with a weaker economic muscle simply turned grocery and carpentry shops, bottle stores, churches, warehouses, residential buildings and other structures into classrooms.

Meanwhile, government stood watching or someone had misplaced its whistle as the operators used all the tricks available in the book to dig more gold from desperate parents and guardians.
The issue of school fees payable in each term remained the proprietor’s private matter, and it could at times be determined by the length of his wife’s shopping list. On the other hand, any major shortfall would be mitigated by increasing the number of terms in a school calendar.

But it seems the final whistle has at last been blown and it’s now game over. With almost three scores of private secondary schools already condemned and closed, it seems sanity is on its way back to the education sector.

To date, what is coming out clearly is that government is closing down schools once their structures and teacher qualifications are examined and found wanting.

Unorthodox school terms and unreasonable fees are also the other grey areas that have already attracted the wrath of Capital Hill. But registration or accreditation of the schools is also another area that needs not be overlooked.

Why should an individual without any qualification, knowledge or experience in education issues be allowed to operate a private secondary school? It becomes an insult to the education sector if somebody who was trained in carpentry and joinery is licensed to run a secondary school.

Even if he or she employs qualified teachers, they will still need professional guidance from the proprietor. At one point the teachers and the proprietor would need to speak the same language in as far as education matters are concerned.

If someone who has never been to a law school cannot be allowed to operate a law firm, why should we allow a non-teacher to register and operate a private secondary school?

Education is a key sector in any economy and if we put garbage in it, the same will manifest itself in the calibre of doctors, accountants, agriculturists, scientists, lawyers and economists mother Malawi will produce in the years to come.