MALAWI – EDUCATION
1. HISTORY
History has it that the first school in Malawi was started by missionaries in late 1800. Currently, there are more primary than secondary schools in Malawi with many qualified students not being selected to secondary school each year, and even more not being able to go for tertiary education (only 10% of students who finish secondary school go to university). The majority are under fourteen years old and not suitable for paid or self employment.
The effects of not having enough schools in the country (primary to tertiary) are
- Overcrowded Classrooms, an average of 100 pupils per teacher (primary schools)
- Scarcity of teaching and learning material (i.e. 5 or more students share one text book in primary schools).
- Infrastructure in bad shape (many schools have classrooms with no windows. Sometimes classes are held under a tree)
- High dropout in schools, leading to high iliteracy rate, early marriages (mostly girls), and child labor.
Apart from not having enough secondary schools, most communities don't even have a Primary School. This is the case with Gusu Village. The closest school is an hour walking distance for children. Most parents end up not sending their children to school because of distance. For those who do, they wait until their children are 10 years old so that they can walk that distance. However, most of the end up dropping out of school as younger students in the classroom laugh at them. there is also a high dropout rate during winter and rainy seasons as parents wont let their children walk long distances.
2. CURRENT INITIATIVE
At the moment, E-3 International is helping 24 children attend primary school by providing them school supplies (uniform, books, writing material, bathing and laundry soap, lotion) and one child in secondary school with similar supplies. Our goal is to have every school going child in school, and not only a handful.
3. CURRENT PROJECT
E-3 International is partnering with the community in building a primary school that will see all school going age children attend school. The minimum Government requirements for a primary school is to have four classrooms, two teacher houses and toilets. At the moment, one teacher house, two classrooms and four toilets have been constructed. A second classroom block us under construction. Our goal is to have a school with 8 classrooms and 8 teacher houses with all basic teaching and learning material. (Contact us to find out how you can support construction of this school).
4. LONG TERM PLAN
- Build Schools With Quality Infrastructure For A Good Learning Environment.
- Have Enough Teachers For A Good Teacher/Student Ratio.
- Build Schools With Adequate Teaching And Learning Material.
- Build Schools With Vocational Training To Help Students Develop Own Businesses if Unable To Attend College/University.
E-3 International is of the view that practical subjects such as agriculture, carpentry, metal-work, and tailoring need to be taught in all schools. This will enable students to be self-employed, and will also provide human resources to the communities the students are coming from and will continue to be a source of skilled laborers for the Malawi nation.
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This page was last updated: January 13, 2012
