In Malawi, quality school education is a luxury. More than half of learners cannot read properly, and only a small proportion of children complete secondary-level schooling. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of training for teaching staff. UNICEF’s support makes the ongoing training of teachers in Malawi possible.
The situation
Although the landlocked south-east African country has made good progress in education over the past decade, the proportion of children who complete secondary-level schooling is still less than 60%. Fewer than half of students have basic reading skills by the time they leave school. One of the main reasons for this education crisis is the lack of expertise among teachers, only 47% of whom have minimum reading and writing skills. The problem is complex: in addition to the poorly developed nationwide management of teaching staff and institutional capacity constraints, factors such as widespread poverty and sociocultural norms are exacerbating the situation. As a result, investment in teacher training is rare.
How UNICEF helps
To improve student learning outcomes in Malawi, UNICEF is therefore focusing on training for teaching staff.
UNICEF is supporting the training and development of teachers in 96 primary and 25 secondary schools in the south-east of the country. For example, an e-learning platform is being developed to promote continuous professional development. Training in the traditional sense, i.e. on-site, is also being expanded. In all program activities, care is taken to strengthen the commitment of the entire community and various interest groups.
The program is fully funded and is currently being implemented. A big thank you to all donors!
