Described by The Weekend Nation Newspaper as the University of Chaos, the university of Malawi is at it again, in the press for all the wrong reasons, this time, the lecturers have told the management of the university that they will not be teaching outside working hours.
In a statement, Chancellor College Academic Staff Union (CCASU) members penned Vice Chancellor Samson Sajidu telling him that the lecturers have rejected a decision to work from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm in the coming semester which is commencing next Monday 6th March 2022.
According to Foster Gondwe, President of CCASU who signed the statement, the decision was arrived at by the University Management in order to accommodate a double cohort of first years. However, Gondwe said as CCASU, they met on 27th February 2023 and resolved to reject the decision. The letter states that the rejection is based on the fact that working under the hours would “constitute unfair labor practices, exploitation and breach of respective employment contracts.”
Gondwe has also reminded the management of the University that CCASU members are also involved in other work–related activities such as marking, student consultations, research, and consulting, to which they also dedicate their time.
‘’Please note that all CCASU members resolved that none of its members will take or deliver classes timetabled before 7:30 am under /or after 4:30 pm, “the letter reads.
A fight raged championed by the students to have a double cohort of the first years, a fight which led to the closure of the University. When the country thought they had agreed, now comes lecturers with this demand. One would be tempted to think the Management of the University led by Professor Sajidu and Dr. Sunduzwayo Madise must be scrutinized and weighed for their competence otherwise, the circus at the University of Malawi needs to end once and for all.
One would think extending working time would attract extra pay but it appears Sajidu and his Deputy thought the lecturers would be offering free services.
