MALAWI: Catholic University Ready for On-site Teaching
Catholic University of Malawi
By Luke Bisani
After four months of successfully teaching students online using Google classroom, the Catholic University of Malawi has disclosed that it is ready to switch back to face-to-face teaching of students following government decision to re-opening schools in September.
In his national addressed last Saturday, President Rev. Lazarus Chakwera said the government is to allow students to go back to school after five months when former president Prof. Peter Mutharika ordered the closure of schools on the 23rd of March this year as one way of preventing the spread of novel coronavirus.
Chakwera added that only schools that meet the government’s safety standards on Coronavirus prevention will be allowed to reopen.
The University has then disclosed that it is ready to face government assessment on Coronavirus prevention for schools reopening in the country.
The University’s Registrar Mr Francis Nkhoma said the University has been geared to have students back at Saint Montfort main campus in Nguludi and the satellite centre in Lilongwe while observing preventing measures to the disease.
“After the government had closed schools, we have been having management meetings to discuss how best we can have students on campus while observing preventive measures of the disease and we are prepared to have our students to back so that they can continue accessing high quality education that we offer to them. Even if they can come today, they are to find that we are ready,” said Nkhoma.
Nkhoma added that the University has reduced the number of desks in lecture rooms to increase the space needed between one student to the other, introduced body temperature checkpoints, and will encourage students to frequently wash their hands.
The University has also produced hand sanitisers through its Faculty of Science to complement the other preventive measures.
The Catholic University of Malawi has over four thousand students studying in various programs at Diplomas, Bachelor’s Degree and Masters level.
Since its establishment in 2006, the University has maintained its position as the centre of excellence for quality holistic education by producing graduates who have joined the industry in Malawi and beyond, with quality skills.
