Malawi watchdog slams schools over exam fee price gouging
The CFTC has advised institutions to improve their payment processing timelines and warned of potential action against schools engaging in these practices.
LILONGWE, Malawi — Malawi's competition watchdog has condemned educational institutions for demanding additional examination fees from students who have already paid in full for foreign certification tests, writes Wendi Mkandawire.
The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) found that schools administering international exams are setting unreasonably tight deadlines between collecting fees from students and remitting payments to foreign examination boards.
"Such developments have been forcing institutions to demand extra payments from students, often when it's too close to examination time," said Innocent Helema, CFTC public relations officer.
The practice has particularly impacted students due to the depreciation of the local currency, causing schools to seek additional funds to cover shortfalls.
The CFTC has advised institutions to improve their payment processing timelines and warned of potential action against schools engaging in these practices.
"We will take necessary redress measures against any educational institutions that unfairly subject students to these malpractices," Helema told reporters.
The commission's investigation revealed that delayed remittance of examination fees to foreign boards has become a recurring issue, putting financial strain on students and their families.