It has come to the Ministry's notice that, there is still some confusion
about the revised secondary school fees and the newly introduced Secondary
School Bursary (SSB) scheme.
Therefore, the Ministry would like to give further information
on the two issues:
REVISED SECONDARY SCHOOL FEES |
With effect from 30th April, 2001 school fees in Government
and Government-Aided Secondary Schools including Community Day Secondary
Schools are as follows:
- Boarding fees K1,500.00 per term = K4,500.00 per year
- Tuition fees K500.00 per term = K1,500.00 per year
- Textbook Revolving Fund = K250.00 per year.
This means that a student in a boarding school will pay a total of K6,250.00
per year while a student in a day school will pay K1,750.00 per year.
In addition to these fees, schools may charge a General Purpose Fund
(GPF) and a School Development Fund (SDF). The level of the GPF should
not exceed K50 per term. The level of the SDF will depend on the development
project at the school and will be determined by the school committee or
the PTA. In no circumstances should the level of the SDF be determined
by the Head teacher unilaterally.
SECONDARY SCHOOL BURSARY SCHEME |
The secondary school bursary scheme replaces the GABLE bursary
scheme. Where as the GABLE bursary covered all girls, the secondary school
bursary scheme is for needy pupils, both girls and boys. The SSB scheme
is in pursuance of Government's desire to ensure that, no pupil selected
to go to secondary school
fails to do so because he or she is needy. A needy pupil is any pupil
who is genuinely not able to pay his or her school fees.
Ultimately the bursary may have to be processed at local assemblies.
The Ministry will soon be liaising with the Ministry of Local Government
on this issue. However, in the meantime, the bursary will be processed
at the school using the following guidelines.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING BEBENFICIARIES OF
THE SSBS |
Candidates for the bursary must:
- Be proven to be really needy. (These could include pupils who
are orphans or have poor parents or guardians)
- Be proven to be eager to continue schooling
- Have a record of regular school attendance
- Have proven good behaviour
- Have positive attitude towards school
- Must not be a recipient of another bursary.
PROCEDURE FOR AWARDING THE SCHOLARSHIIP |
- Each school shall have a bursary committee that will consist of
the headteacher, two other teachers and two members of the school committee
or PTA. Where applicable the two teachers in the committee shall be
the boarding master ind-boarft-artstress or matron
- The school bursary committee will identify needy students in the
schooFusing the above criteria
- The identified pupils will be given application forms to fill
- The school shall produce four copies of a list of all candidates
whose applications have been approved by the committee according to
their classes. The original list and the completed application forms
will be sent to the Ministry Headquarters. One copy of the list will
be sent to the Education Division Office. Another copy will be sent
to the DEO or LEA while the fourth copy will be kept by the school
- Upon receiving the list of recommended candidates, the Ministry
Headquarters will disburse the bursaries. Money that is supposed to
go to the Government, will be disbursed to the Treasury while. money
that is supposed to go to the school, will be disbursed to the school
- The Ministry will send details of the disbursed funds to the schools
through the Education Division Office
- The school bursary committee shall assist in the monitoring of
the scheme performance and provide relevant feedback to Headquarters
- Initially the bursaries will be awarded in the ratio of 80/20
in favour of girls. This will be reviewed annually and will gradually
shift towards 50/50 by 2004.
Application forms have been sent to all schools through the
Education Division Offices. While their applications are being processed,
the identified needy students should not be sent away for not having paid
their fees.
Secretary for Education, Science and Technology
Private Bag 328
Lilongwe 3
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