The Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation, Joseph Mwanamveka, has applauded the Catholic University of Malawi for its financial self-reliance and sustainability, noting that the institution operates without government subventions. Speaking in Parliament during the Budget Motion on Tuesday, Mwanamveka commended private universities in Malawi for their ability to sustain themselves without external financial support, in contrast to public universities, which rely heavily on government funding. “Why is it that the Catholic University of Malawi, a private institution, is not only surviving but also generating surpluses without subventions?” queried Mwanamveka. He further observed that the University continues to expand its infrastructure using its own resources, unlike many public universities that depend on international donor support for development projects. The Minister’s remarks followed a question from the Member of Parliament for Mulanje Central, Kondwani Nankhumwa, who raised concerns over the significant budget allocation to public universities amid the country’s ongoing economic challenges. Nankhumwa noted that although public universities were established to serve students from less privileged backgrounds, statistics indicate that a majority of enrolled students come from families with the financial capacity to support their education. Concurring with this observation, Mwanamveka pointed out that many students in public universities previously attended elite secondary schools, where they paid approximately USD 12,067.80 per annum, yet pay only about USD 229.86 per annum once enrolled in public universities. Established by the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB), the Catholic University of Malawi has continued to grow while offering holistic and quality education both within the country and beyond. The University currently operates two campuses: St. Montfort Campus in Nguludi, Chiradzulu, and the recently opened St. Thomas More Campus in Lilongwe. Plans are also underway to expand its presence to the Northern Region, with a proposed campus at Ekaiweni in Mzuzu.