Malawian students suffer in Cuba

BY DICKSON KASHOTI
Infosearch:
José Sánchez
Bureau Chief
Cuba
Research Dept.
La Nueva Cuba
October 4, 2006

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation say Malawi would be reviewing its bilateral agreement with Cuba on student scholarships, as Cuba's conditions are not benefiting Malawi.

The ministry's Director of International Corporation Joseph Chite told the Public Accounts Committee recently that the agreement to have students from
Malawi trained in various fields in Cuba has turned out to be expensive for Malawi and the students suffer in Cuba because they are not well looked after.

He said the Cuba demands that the Malawi pays fees for its students, many of whom were sent to study medicine, information technology and
athletics but the Cuban government demands that the expatriates Cuba sends to Malawi be fully
paid by the Malawi government.

Chite was answering a question from PAC members who wanted to know how the bilateral agreement with the government of Cuba was working.

"Malawi is not utilizing the agreement because the situation on the ground is different. We are even thinking of withdrawing the remaining
student in Cuba because the conditions he is living is are very pathetic ," Chite said.

Chite said it is also hard to send money to Cuba, making it difficult for the student whose parents pledged to co-sponsor the scholarship.