NCHE to Fully Migrate to Electronic Application for Public Universities

Malawi-The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) plans to migrate fully to electronic application for public universities this year to support candidates in their programme choices and ensure efficient processing, writes Judgment Katika.

NCHE Director of Planning, Research, and Development Mangani Katundu made the announcement during a government-citizen engagement (pabwalo) on university selection held at Kaundama Community Day Secondary School in Lilongwe.

According to Katundu, the process will require students to register online and input their grades.

The system will be able to recommend appropriate programmes for them based on their performance, so that they do not end up being redirected after submitting the application.

Confirmation messages will be sent to their phone numbers along with an invoice generated, and payments can be made through mobile money or an online bank transaction.

Katundu further said that the institution will be rolling out an awareness campaign on the application process and capacitating teachers, colleges, and all centres to sensitise the general public on the application process and programme.

Chairman of the committee of deans Arox Kamng'ona added that space is a challenge in universities, and that's why they call upon each university to declare the space that they would want in that particular year.

He said they are not just limited to teaching students in the classroom but are also expanding the use of platforms such as open distance and e-learning, which will increase access to higher education.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity, and Culture, Elizabeth Chindebvu, said Kaundama CDSS is one of the targeted schools for the awareness session on university admissions.

She added that it is hard for people in the area to access information and that it is important to guide and inspire them to pursue higher education so that they can actively participate in creating a wealthy and self-reliant nation in line with Malawi2063.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture and was held at Kaundama Community Day Secondary School in Traditional Authority Mazengera in Lilongwe district under the Department of Civic Education.

The electronic application programme will be viewed and announced at the Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation (MBC) television and radio.