Officials at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources have urged the parliamentary committee on education to increase funding for agricultural research, according to the Nyasa Times. During an interface meeting, LUANAR Vice-Chancellor Emmanuel Kaunda argued that while the university has more than one hundred internationally recognised professors, it lacks the financial resources required to develop improved seeds and modern farming techniques. Kaunda warned that without serious investment in laboratory research and experimental farms, Malawi will continue to face low agricultural productivity and frequent food shortages.
Update: Following LUANAR's recent victory at the 'Shifting the Power' Inter-University Debates against UNIMA, the university has announced a K400,000 cash award for each student on the winning team, the Nyasa Times reports. Vice-Chancellor Emmanuel Kaunda praised the students for their analytical skills during the contest, which challenged foreign aid dependency and promoted local development leadership. Minister of Education Bright Msaka attended the grand finale, noting that the event demonstrated how young people can help influence national governance.
In Balaka District, a Standard 8 student with mobility challenges at Chembera Primary School has received a bicycle through the Tikwaniritse ndi Kuteteza Maufulu a Ana (TIKUMA) project, MBC Online reports. The donation, supported by Norad through Save the Children, allows the student to attend classes independently instead of relying on relatives for transport. Teachers at the school noted that the equipment will help the learner maintain consistent attendance as he prepares for the upcoming Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education exams.