|
The Anthropology Department of
Catholic University of Malawi has sadly decided to end its Archaeology Programme. The Programme, which was the country's first, started in 2006. The Department came to this conclusion as it has repeatedly struggled to find suitable lecturers, despite assistance by Mlambe Foundation.
Mlambe Foundation has supported the Programme since its inception. The very reason for starting this programme -the need to train professional archaeologistsy- has now led to its discontinuation: No qualified Malawian lecturers are available and the conditions of employment has proved it very hard to find and keep international lecturers. The low student enrollment -some 2 per year- has further complicated the matter. Mlambe Foundation very much regrets this development.
Kingsley Pamanda, the Mlambe Foundation supported fourth year student, will still be able to finish his degree later this year. Other students have been asked to switch to Cultural Anthropology. When Kingsley graduates, the Programme will have produced four archaeology graduates. Rachel Warren, the first graduate, will remain at CUNIMA as an assistant lecturer and will hopefully join the University of Witwatersrand later this year for Master studies.
On a positive note, later this year the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) is to be opened in nearby Thyolo. MUST will have a School of Culture and Heritage Studies, which is to include archaeology. Mlambe Foundation will contact MUST to stay informed about its development.
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
