The Malawi government has intensified its crackdown on non-compliant higher education institutions by deregistering Pentecostal Life University (PLU), according to the Nyasa Times. The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) ordered the immediate closure of the institution after it failed to meet minimum operating standards. The decision, which halts all academic programs and new student admissions at PLU, comes just weeks after authorities ordered the closure of Skyway University.
Update: During ongoing public debate over the recent 100 percent tuition fee hike at public universities, Minister of Higher Education Bright Msaka has assured Parliament that no student will be forced to abandon their studies. According to Radio Islam Malawi and the Nyasa Times, Msaka defended the policy and announced that eligible students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds will have access to increased student loans of up to K1.3 million to cover the new costs. Nation Online reports that the government has allocated K42 billion for student loans and upkeep allowances in the 2026/27 budget to support vulnerable students at institutions such as the University of Malawi (UNIMA), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Mzuzu University (MZUNI), and the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS).
In the primary education sector, Lilongwe-based Emmanuel University (EMUNI) has launched a new initiative to train teachers in supporting learners with disabilities, the Nyasa Times reports. Designed to close the gap caused by a national shortage of specialist educators, the project recently facilitated an inclusive education course for teachers from 24 primary schools in Dedza and Lilongwe. The training is part of the Women Empowerment and Special Needs Education (WESNED) Project, which is funded by the German charity Bread for the World.
Meanwhile, LUANAR is participating in international discussions on agricultural research and data collection. According to a university statement, recent Bachelor of Science in Agriculture graduate Benjamin Mulumpwa is representing the institution at the 10th International Conference on Agricultural Statistics in Krakow, Poland. The conference, which runs through July 10 and is co-organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank, focuses on digital agriculture and evidence-based policymaking.