Independent Schools Urge Government to Revise Inspection and Licensing Fees

By Steven Godfrey Mkweteza…..

The Independent Schools Association of Malawi (ISAMA) has appealed to the government to review the inspection and licensing fees for private schools, citing concerns over compromised quality and educational standards.

ISAMA President, Bishop Whycliff Chimwendo, made the call during the official opening of the 3rd National Annual Conference of ISAMA, held on Wednesday in Blantyre.

Chimwendo pointed out that the high costs associated with inspections and licensing are hindering the delivery of quality education in the country.

“While we would like to assure the government that ISAMA remains committed to supporting our schools and the Ministry of Education in the pursuit of quality education, it is unfortunate that many independent schools are struggling due to the high costs of inspections and licensing,” he said.

He warned that without timely intervention, many low-fee independent schools risk closure.

“In this challenging economic environment, we need affordable inspection and licensing rates to ensure we can continue providing quality education that meets modern demands,” Chimwendo added.

He further argued that the country will continue to face the proliferation of unregistered and unscrupulous school operators unless the government makes the cost of compliance more manageable.

Chimwendo reaffirmed ISAMA’s commitment to advocating for policies and programs that benefit its members and promote quality education in Malawi.

In response, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wilima, acknowledged the concerns but expressed surprise that the issue was raised publicly before being formally brought to the ministry.

“Our offices are always open for discussions of this nature. I wonder why the association chose to raise this in a public forum rather than engaging us directly,” Wilima said.

She also encouraged ISAMA to adopt digital and technological solutions to align with the demands of the modern educational landscape.