By Burnett Munthali
A chaotic scene unfolded at Lilongwe Technical College on Monday as three students were rushed to the hospital after being affected by teargas fired onto the campus during an examination session. The incident occurred when protests erupted near the college, leading to the use of teargas by law enforcement, which unfortunately drifted onto the college grounds.
The students, who were in the middle of their exams, were immediately affected by the fumes, causing them distress and health concerns. College authorities quickly took action, transporting the affected students to nearby medical facilities for treatment. Fortunately, the students were reported to be in stable condition after receiving medical attention.
College Principal, Suzgika Mvalo, confirmed the incident and expressed deep concern over the disruption caused by the demonstrations. Speaking to Power 101 Online, Mvalo clarified that none of the college’s students were involved in the protests, as they were focused on their exams. “Our students were busy writing exams, and none of them were part of the demonstrations. It is unfortunate that this happened,” Mvalo explained.
Despite the chaos and the potential for further disruption, Mvalo noted that postponing the examinations would be a difficult decision, as the exams were part of the national academic calendar. “These are annual national exams, and postponing them would create significant challenges. We are trying to ensure that everything proceeds as planned, despite the unfortunate incident,” he added.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of students during times of unrest, especially in academic institutions. There are calls for more effective measures to prevent such disruptions from affecting educational activities in the future.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the protests and the response from law enforcement to ensure the safety of the community. Meanwhile, Lilongwe Technical College has resumed its examination sessions under heightened security measures, and the affected students are receiving the necessary care to ensure their swift recovery.
