Author/s:
Msiska, Masauko*
Beijing Normal University, China (masamsiska@yahoo.com)
Abstract:
This paper is a discussion of the Malawi government’s policy to increase access to university education as a way of trying to absorb more secondary school graduates into the university system. The discussion culminates from a qualitative study that was conducted at Kamuzu College of Nursing in Malawi to assess the impact of the policy in the University of Malawi. The study has found that the initiative has enabled more students to pursue a career in nursing and midwifery which has helped to increase the number of graduates from the college thereby increasing the number of nursing and midwifery professionals who are joining the workforce. On the other hand, this initiative has also created some problems for both the college and the students. Among other things, the college is facing the problem of large classes which are difficult to handle while some of the students live off campus where they are faced with a number of challenges. Therefore it is recommended that proper strategies should be put in place for the successful implementation of the policy.
Keywords: Malawi; University of Malawi; Kamuzu College of Nursing; national education sector plan; off campus
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrsm.2016.1434
*Corresponding Author