Various stakeholders continue to weigh in over a recent government decision to abolish the quota system of selecting students to institutions of higher learning.
The announcement was made earlier last week along with a reinstatement of the Junior Certificate of Education which was halted five years ago.
The quota system is based on students’ district of origin, rather than merit alone and acts as a form of affirmative action for students from the country’s central and southern regions due to their perceived regional underrepresentation at universities.
It has over the last few years led to miscellaneous debates most of which rested on activists from the north describing it as tribal.
In reaction to the development, one of the groupings that have been lobbying for the abolishment of the system the Quota Must Fall Movement describes the move as a political one as the ordered presidential elections loom.
In December, the government announced the abolition of the quota system in the selection of students into secondary schools but has now moved to extend the same to public higher learning institutions.
In an interview with MIJ Online, spokesperson of the movement, William Mumba says while the move is welcome but insist they still view it as a step for the DPP’s political as elections are due this May.
Mumba has since vowed to continue pressing the government so that the system is completely shut down in all circles that portray a sense of tribalism.