NEWS:

9 May, 2016


The Norwegian Deputy Ambassador, His Excellency Bjarne Garden handing over the Water Supply Facilities to Luanar 1
Just as most urban and rural areas in the country are being affected by access to safe water, LUANAR has not been spared to the extent that on some occasions some members of staff and students are not available to access safe water. This has forced the LUANAR community to access water from unsafe and unsecure sources.


This has further put a burden on students and women to access water from distant places. Students spend long hours in queues to fetch water and later miss classes.


As a result of an increased demand for water supply in the Lilongwe City, provision of water to the university is not fully met.


According to LUANAR Vice Chancellor, Professor George Kanyama Phiri, the tremendous increase in intake of students at LUANAR , Bunda Campus especially and increased population of the surrounding areas has increased demand for the water resource hence the existing water works facilities were inadequate to supply all areas.


“As such some areas within the Bunda Campus especially those in the high lying areas experience frequent water shortages when water level in the existing tank is low,” said Professor Kanyama Phiri.


The Norwegian government has therefore pumped in 250 million Kwacha to a water facility project, a component of the Infrastructure Development Programme (IDP) at LUANAR, as one as one way of reducing these water supply problems which has been faced by the institution.


Speaking during the handover ceremony of the Water Supply facilities last week, the Norwegian Deputy Ambassador, His Excellency Bjarne Garden said the project is one component of the funding arrangement that the Norwegian government is providing to LUANAR.


He said apart from improving the existing water supply which includes construction of tank, drilling of boreholes and laying water pipes, his government is constructing a of a 212 bed female students’ hostel, constructing teaching and learning complex , rehabilitating existing teaching and learning facilities as well as rehabilitating the sewage system.


In his remarks, Professor Kanyama Phiri thanked the Norwegian government for the continuous support rendered to LUANAR saying this will create a conducive learning and teaching environment at the institution.


“The support we have received from the Government of Norway since 1998 has provided a unique relationship that we cherish as a university. This support has seen an increase of qualified lecturers, improved laboratory facilities, increase in female students accessing higher education, publication and participating in several national and international forums. This indeed has made LUANAR a shining example at country and regional level and allows both students and staff to showcase several products that are allowing key stakeholders to achieve their own development objectives,” said Professor kanyama Phiri.


He said Improved water supply system being handed over, will go a long way in alleviating some of the critical challenges that students, staff and their families have been experienced due to erratic water flows from the existing water supply.

Professor Kanyama Phiri urged development partners and the private sector to work hand in hand with the University to make sure that its graduates are given the required teaching and learning environments.


“In order to fulfil the government policy and indeed meet regional and international higher education indicators, there is need to continue increasing access to our degrees. This vision can only be achieved if partners will emulate the support given to us by the government of Norway and Malawi,” he said.


Complementing the Vice Chancellor, Director of Education Science and Technology in the Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Dr McJessy Mbewe commended the Norwegian government for the support saying it has come at the right time when government is implementing the National Education Sector Plan (NESP) whose thematic areas includes expanding equitable access to education to enable all to benefit and promoting quality education at all level of education in the country.


He said the water improvement project will solve the problem of water shortage at LUANAR as it will double the supply of water to the institution.


“In doing so, there will be enough water for the students, staff and families hence teaching and learning will not be disrupted. If there is no water learning and teaching cannot take place. We have even witnessed educational institutions being closed because of lack of water,” he said.


Dr Mbewe further asked LUANAR to take care of the newly launched water supply system as water is very critical to running the institution.
“May I therefore urge LUANAR Management to maintain this important water supply system which the Norwegian Government has given to us to that it serves us for a longer period of time,” said Dr Mbewe.

The main focus of the Infrastructure IDP is to support infrastructure developments at Bunda Campus and to widen access to university education and improving teaching and learning environment.


Written By: Patricia Nkhoma