Public universities in Malawi have directed students sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to either secure alternative funding or withdraw from their studies following the recent freeze on U.S. foreign aid.
The aid suspension, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, will last 90 days and has already begun impacting thousands of students across several universities, including Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mzuzu University, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, and the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST).
Institutions Struggle as Projects Stall
MUST’s Communications Manager, James Mphande, described the freeze as a major setback, halting numerous USAID-funded projects.
“What it means now is that everything has been suspended,” he said. “If we were developing a curriculum, we can’t proceed.
If we had outreach activities, we can’t proceed. If we were in the process of making procurements, we can’t proceed.”
While the immediate semester’s fees may have already been covered, Mphande noted that students might face severe financial challenges in the coming semesters.
For many students, the impact is already being felt. Patience Yamikani Chakwana, a first-year business information technology student at MUST, said the aid suspension disrupted their financial stability.
“It was really unexpected,” Chakwana said. “We had just started school, and suddenly, we were told the funds were cut. At the time, I had no money for upkeep. That was the only hope I had.”
Chakwana explained that USAID had been covering her tuition, accommodation, groceries, and internet expenses. With the suspension, she now relies on loans from friends.
Malawi’s Minister of Higher Education, Jessie Kabwila, acknowledged the challenge but assured that the government is exploring solutions.
“We have engaged local private sector partners and international allies,” Kabwila said. “We have agreements with Morocco, and discussions are ongoing with the Czech Republic and others to support affected students.”
Alexander Kude, Deputy Director of the Commonwealth Students Association, urged African nations to invest more in their education systems to avoid crises caused by external aid cuts.
“The funds from USAID are just a fraction of the U.S. budget,” Kude said. “Why not develop our own financial strategies to sustain our education sector independently?”
The Trump administration stated that the freeze is intended to review USAID’s spending and ensure alignment with U.S. policy objectives.
The suspension is set to continue until April 20.
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