The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) has faulted the Ministry of Education for failing its mandate in making sure that universities operating in Malawi are fully credited.  

PAC Chairperson Shadric Namalomba said it is unfortunate to observe that there is emergence of fake papers despite having all mandated institutions to tame the vice.

He said: “The members wanted to learn, what is the role of the Ministry with regard to controlling, managing and supervising universities as you are aware there is problem offering fake certificates, diplomas and degrees.”

Namalomba, who was speaking during an interface with officials from the Ministry in Lilongwe, added there is need to amend the country’s laws to ensure that such accreditation is done on condition.

“At the moment of licensing and as it is done elsewhere, you license them but you tell them on conditions and you are not going to start operations until you have your courses accredited.

And if they are going to do that, then we are going to address this issue of fake degrees,” suggested Namalomba.

But in her response, Secretary for Education Chikondano Musa maintained that parents should always be mindful of registering their students in accredited institutions of higher learning only.

“The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), they register and accredit universities and before they do registration, a particular university has to meet requirements.

What I want to put across to the nation is that parents shouldn’t register their students in a university that is not credited,” Musa said.