Education in Malawi
Encyclopedia
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
has an 8-4-4 education system consisting of primary school (known as Standard 1 to Standard 8), secondary school (known as Form 1 to 4) and university education. The official entry age into primary level education is 6 years. Primary education in Malawi is compulsory.
The long years of colonial oppression and oppression by the Banda regime have ended their negative influence over the educational system. Education no longer stresses academic preparation leading to access to secondary school and universities, rather the stress is now on agriculture and practical training since few students go on to high school or university and most begin work immediately after primary school. Secondary and university education have seen dramatic growth but neither educational sector comes close to meeting Malawi's educational needs for a well-trained labor force.
Educational Culture in Malawi
AttireSchool uniforms are a requirement at all schools in Malawi. They usually consist of a either a dress or skirt and blouse for girls, and shorts or pants and a top for boys. Many uniforms also consist of a school Jersey or Blazer for the cooler seasons. The color and design of each uniform varies by each school. Uniforms can be purchased at the schools or in stores.
Boarding experience
The majority of schools in Malawi are boarding schools where students starting at primary school, live on the school campus during the school terms.
Co-educational institutions and single sex institutions
Malawis schools can either be co-ed or single sex.
Extracurricular activities
Extra curricula activities are encouraged at schools. Popular after school activities for Girls include sports such a netball, field hockey and swimming. Popular sports for boys includee football (soccer), rugby, basketball, and cricket.
Primary Education
There are two main types of primary schools, namely assisted (public) and unassisted (private) schools. Primary schools can be found in many villages and hamlets throughout Malawi.By 1970, there were approximately 2,000 primary schools for 35 percent of primary school aged youth. About 12 percent of all primary school students attended private, predominantly church run schools.Secondary School Education
Secondary education developed late in Malawi, because of little effort or neglect in secondary education during throughout the colonial era. Malawi has five types of secondary schools. There are aided boarding schools, aided day schools, government boarding-secondary schools, government day secondary schools, and private secondary schools. Most secondary teachers are qualified and hold either degrees or diplomas.In the curriculum, Agriculture is a compulsory subject for all students. Wood working, metal work, and technical drawing are encouraged for boys, and home economics is encouraged for girls. One of the biggest criticisms of secondary schools in Malawi is that they are too university-oriented and needs more technical skills taught. Most students immediately enter the workforce and need a different orientation. Therefore, Secondary schools do not produce as many graduates as the labor market demands.
Public School System
The government established free primary education for all children in 1994, which increased attendance rates, according to UNICEF. In 1994, the gross primary enrollment rate was 133.9 percent, and the net primary enrollment rate was 102.6 percent. In 1995, 62 percent of students entering primary school reached grade two, and 34 percent reached grade five. The dropout rate is higher among girls than boys.Private School System
Private schools have risen in Malawi and offer an alternative to public schools. Private schools include school like Phungu, Lilongwe Girls, and Sunnyside School. Some consolidates private schools are run by the Designated Schools Board.Private high schools in Malawi
- Kamuzu AcademyKamuzu AcademyKamuzu Academy is a boarding school in Malawi that was founded by, and named after, the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the former President. It is described by its proponents as "The Eton of Africa".- History :...
- Saint Andrews International High SchoolSaint Andrews International High SchoolSaint Andrews International School in Blantyre, Malawi was founded 1958 as a high school. It was founded by the Church of Scotland Mission in Blantyre.-History:...
Charitable Foundation schools
Many independent schools have been set up as charitable foundations in Malawi with a specific targeted pupil.Jacaranda School
The Jacaranda FoundationJacaranda Foundation
The Jacaranda Foundation is an American/Malawian grassroots organisation founded in 2002 by Malawian Marie Da Silva. With the foundation itself based in New York City, it maintains the Jacaranda School. Since Primary education is currently free for all students,it is Malawi's only entirely free...
, founded by nanny Marie Da Silva, maintains the Jacaranda School. It is Malawi's only entirely free school for primary and secondary students. The vast majority of students of the Jacaranda School are orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, as featured on 2008 CNN Heroes
CNN Heroes
CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute is an annual television special created by CNN to honor individuals who make extraordinary contributions to help others. It is hosted by Anderson Cooper...
.
The Joyce Banda Foundation
The Joyce Banda FoundationJoyce Banda Foundation
The Joyce Banda Foundation is a primary and secondary school in Malawi founded by Joyce Banda in 1997. Its primary focus is education and sustainable development.In response to the needs of the rural community, it grew into a multi-facetd organisation. It now also hosts an Orphan Care Center that...
is a foundation that runs schools for primary and secondary schools in Malawi.
Raising Malawi Academy for Girls
The Raising MalawiRaising Malawi
Raising Malawi is a charity non-profit organization that was founded by Madonna and Michael Berg in 2006. It is dedicated to helping with the extreme poverty and hardship endured by Malawi's one million orphans.-Mission statement:-Charity fundraiser:...
foundation is in the process of building a school aimed at female education in Malawi.
University of Malawi
Malawi's first and largest tertiraty educational institution is the University of MalawiUniversity of Malawi
The University of Malawi is an educational institution established in 1964 and composed of five constituent colleges located in Zomba, Blantyre, and Lilongwe. Of the five colleges, the largest is Chancellor College in Zomba. The name of the school is abbreviated to UNIMA. It is part of the...
. It was founded in 1964, and is separated in to several campuses.
Mzuzu University
The university was founded in 1997 and is one of the principal universities of Malawi. The school is located in Mzuzu.Catholic University of Malawi
The university is located in Montfort campus in Limbe in Malawi. It was established in 2004 and opened in 2006, with faculties of social science and education. It now additionally offers economics and accounting.University Education Quota System
The Education quota system was used under the Banda reign and discontinued after multi-party rule. Bingu wa Mutharika is re-instituting a quota system for student selection into the University of Malawi.This is seen as discriminatory by a majority of Tumbukas and other northern ethnic groups in Malawi because it places emphasis on region over academic ability.Teaching & Education Profession
The Ministry of Education develops the curriculums used in Malawi's schools and oversee teacher training. Teachers take both pedagogical and academic courses. Supervised practical teaching is expected before teaching independently. Most teachers begin as primary school teachers in a demonstration school adjacent to teacher training facilities. Later, block teaching is tried during which the teacher trainee tries teaching a class on their own for six weeks. There are three types of lecturers that teach potential teachers. There are graduate teacher educators, who chair most departments, as well as diplomate and nondiplomate assistants.Primary Teachers
There are two types of primary school teachers. The type 2 teacher holds a Malawi Certificate of Education (four years of high school), and a two-year Teachers Certificate. A type 3 teacher holds a Junior Certificate (two years of high school), and a two-year Teachers Certificate. Type 4 teachers have a primary education and a Teacher's Certificate [Type 4 teachers are either being upgraded to type 3 teachers or being phased out of teaching]. Type 1 is a promotional grade reserved for headmasters of school principals.Secondary Teachers
Secondary school teachers are trained at the School of Education. This school awards three types of professional qualifications, which are the Diplomas of Education, Bachelor's of Education, and the University Certificate of Education.University Professors
Malawi citizens who serve as professors constitute 30 percent of the university's faculty. In 1977, a total of 87 of the 199 working faculty or 87 percent were expatriates. While 27 percent of the professorate were from Malawi and a further 48 percent were pursuing advanced degrees abroad.There is a need both to upgrade or develop personnel currently serving as professors and to train many more Malawians to fill these posts.The Brain Drain
Like all other professions, the teaching professionals have been impacted by the brain drain. Many Malawian educated professionals are working and living abroad due to higher pay and better working conditions.More Malwian Doctors in Manchester
The quote that there are "More Malawian doctors in Manchester than the whole country" by former Malawian President, Kamuzu Banda is based on facts. Due to the brain drain which is fueled by scholarships for colleges abroad and the hiring of students directly from the University of Malawi, the medical situation in Malawi became dire resulting in this statistic. By the 1980s this had become almost a joke but it is ironically true.Non-governmental organisations
DAPP Malawi operates a teacher training college to meet the need for more primary school teachers in rural areas. Wungwero Book Foundation trains teacher librarians at the DAPP teacher training college. AYISE, a large non-governmental organization based in Blantyre, Malawi, provides education at its youth center and works with local schools.Notable Malawian Educators
- Joyce BandaJoyce BandaJoyce Hilda Banda is a Malawian educator, grassroots gender rights activist turned politician who has been Vice-President of Malawi since May 2009. She is Malawi's first female vice president. She had previous posts as a Member of Parliament, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for...
- Vice President of Malawi, founder of the Joyce Banda foundationJoyce Banda FoundationThe Joyce Banda Foundation is a primary and secondary school in Malawi founded by Joyce Banda in 1997. Its primary focus is education and sustainable development.In response to the needs of the rural community, it grew into a multi-facetd organisation. It now also hosts an Orphan Care Center that... - Dr.Frank ChipasulaFrank ChipasulaDr. Frank M. Chipasula is a Malawian writer, editor and university professor. Previously a professor of Black Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Howard University, Chipasula has also worked as the education attache at the Malawian embassy in Washington, D.C.. Chipasula went into...
- author, poet and educator - Marie Da Silva - Founder of the Jacaranda foundation, CNN Hero 2008
- Peter MutharikaPeter MutharikaArthur Peter Mutharika is a Malawian politician, author, educator, lawyer, advisor and consultant. He has worked in the area of international Justice internationally...
- Professor of law, International law advisor - Anjimile OponyoAnjimile OponyoAnjimile Mtila-Oponyo is a Malawian development worker and educator selected by Madonna as CEO and Head of the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls in Malawi. Prior to joining the academy, she worked for the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the United Nations Development Program where she...
- Educator
Samuel Kaphuka- Founder of Kaphuka Private Schools
Notable Malawian Scholars
- Frank ChipasulaFrank ChipasulaDr. Frank M. Chipasula is a Malawian writer, editor and university professor. Previously a professor of Black Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Howard University, Chipasula has also worked as the education attache at the Malawian embassy in Washington, D.C.. Chipasula went into...
- author, poet and educator - William KamkwambaWilliam KamkwambaWilliam Kamkwamba is a Malawian inventor and author. He gained fame in his country when, in 2002, he built a windmill to power a few electrical appliances in his family's house in Masitala using blue gum trees, bicycle parts, and materials collected in a local scrapyard...
, a Malawian student who gained fame after building a windmill from spare parts
External links
- Ministry of Education of Malawi
- Education Statistics and Quality of Education in Malawi, Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEQ)