Independent presidential candidate Phunziro Mvula has delivered a scathing critique of the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) flagship promise of free secondary school education, warning that it is a reckless policy that could cripple Malawi’s already fragile education system.
Speaking after the September 16 elections, Mvula argued that while education is a basic right, Mutharika’s pledge is nothing more than political bait — one that risks destroying quality in the sector. “The quality of education is already dwindling. If the government removes the responsibility of fees from parents and guardians, standards may deteriorate even further,” Mvula said.
He described the DPP proposal as a populist gimmick designed to win applause in the short term, while ignoring the long-term damage. Malawi’s schools already face crumbling infrastructure, low teacher motivation, and limited resources. By removing parental contributions, Mvula warned, the DPP would deepen dependency and reduce accountability in communities. “Dependency syndrome cannot be broken if the government keeps introducing free services, such as secondary education,” he said, urging the continuation of a cost-sharing model that allows parents to shoulder part of the burden.
The DPP and Mutharika have presented free education as a noble vision. But critics say it is a dangerous illusion, a lazy shortcut in a country where even free primary education left classrooms overcrowded, teachers overstretched, and quality sacrificed. Mutharika, old and out of touch, may view free education as a vote-winner — but for many Malawians, it is a false promise that could condemn an entire generation to poor schooling.
The message from Mvula is clear: leadership requires realism, not empty slogans. Malawi cannot afford policies that sound good on the campaign trail but collapse in the classroom.
