The Scottish government would from the next academic year start providing scholarships to 50 post-graduate students from Malawi annually, visiting Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell said on Monday.
Russell made the announcement on the sidelines of his meeting with President Joyce Banda at the State house in Lilongwe.

His weeklong trip to the country is aimed at strengthening the Malawi/Scottish diplomatic ties which dates way back to the times of Dr David Livingstone.

During the meeting with President Banda, Russell reassured his government’s continued support towards Malawi education and renewable energy sectors.

“We are very committed to work towards improving various sectors of the economy of Malawi with keen interest deployed in quality education,” said Russell.

He is expected to represent his country at the forthcoming annual Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation meeting with the Malawian Government on Friday.

Russell said that his government would also work towards improving the country’s renewable energy sector growth through the Renewable Assistance Programme.

“While improving hydro and solar energy sectors, we also focus at improving the other sectors of energy for the country to be self reliant. This includes the renewable energy sector which is effective,” he said.

On Tuesday, Russell encouraged the authorities, the public and other stakeholders to work together in the renewable energy sector saying there could be difference especially in the rural communities.

According to Russell, electricity has the potential of changing peoples’ lives and prevents deforestation in rural areas.

He was speaking during meeting with key players in the country’s energy sector where he also gave details of an inter-governmental collaboration on the Malawi Renewable Energy Assistance Programme.

This comes at a time when Malawi continues to face challenges in the energy sector which is affecting both household and industrial sectors development