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Malawi |
EDUCATION
Malawi’s school children are facing educational disaster. Public education is a nightmare. With a sinking economy, all hope is lost, and the future of the country, the youth, remain unprepared for future challenges
Many people in Malawi are illiterate. According to the 1999 Human Rights Needs Assessment Survey in Malawi Report, conducted by the Danish Centre for Human Rights, the level of illiteracy in 1997 was 48%. There has not been a significant improvement in this area since then. It should be noted that in 1994, the total enrolment in primary and secondary schools stood at 87% of the school-age population.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) government led by President Bakili Muluzi has been trying to expand education at all levels. In 1994, the Government declared primary education to be free and compulsory. This was in line with the Principles of State Policy in the new Constitution adopted in 1995, which states that «primary education shall be free and compulsory.»
Quantity not quality
This declaration resulted in an increase in enrolment from 1.9 million pupils to 3.2 million, in a population of 11 million people. However, the declaration was made without proper consideration being given to the learning environment. Many of the primary schools did not have adequate school buildings to cater for the increasing number of pupils. Many pupils had to attend classes under trees.
In addition to overcrowding, quality of education has been seriously compromised. There is a high pupil-teacher ratio, further eroding the quality of primary education. The recommended teacher-pupil ratio is 1:45 where one teacher is responsible for 45 pupils. However, in many schools, there are over 100 pupils per class, making teaching difficult.
On 28 September, Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Malawi said in Mzimba that: «The government is providing quantity and not quality education in the country. We have cheap primary schools and very poor learning conditions. Schools are in dilapidated state due to lack of resources in the Ministry of Education — a condition which has drastically affected the education system in the country.»
The Nkhomachi Primary School disaster
The results of over-crowding were shown on 30 September, when two pupils in Standard 2D (over 100 pupils), Lifness Kamulandeni, 11 and Delina Kaya, 10, both pupils at Nkhomachi Primary School, Area 49, Lilongwe, died when a tree — their improvised classroom — collapsed on the pupils. Seven other children were seriously injured. The school’s headmaster, Austin Kamzati, says his school has a total enrolment of 3,200 pupils with 27 classes. Unfortunately, there’s only 8 classrooms available, leaving the remaining pupils to attend lessons under trees surrounding the school.
Following the incident, Lilongwe’s mayor, Charles Chimdzeka issued a directive that all trees be cut down, without explaining where the pupils who learn under the trees will attend their lessons. A directive completely ignoring environmental concerns in a country where environmental degradation is a major threat.
On 6 October, the Civil Society Coalition for Quality Basic Education (CSCBE), a coalition of organisations including national and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO)s, Faith Based Institutions and Academic Institutions, issued a press release blaming the government for the tragic death of the pupils at Nkhomachi Primary School. The Coalition noted that «the teaching and learning environment under which the tragedy occurred, was neither conducive to teaching and learning nor could it guarantee due protection of the lives of the innocent pupils at the schools.»
The Coalition further noted that «poor learning environment is a factor that contributes to the poor access and quality of basic education in many schools in the country. Many pupils are dropping out of school».
Efforts to improve conditions
Malawi’s Constitution and the Policy and Investment Framework (PIF) both indicate that the «financing of education in Malawi is largely a responsibility of the Government. According to the CSCQBE, «pupils having to learn under a tree is a clear indication of failure to adequately finance the school system — providing classrooms and other teaching and learning material such as desks, textbooks and writing material.»
True, there have been efforts to improve the infrastructure in many schools in the country. The Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF) Project (funded by a loan from the World Bank), has been supporting school buildings’ construction.
However, efforts to provide school buildings have been thwarted by corruption. Towards the 1999 General Elections, many of the UDF candidates registered as building contractors and were awarded contracts to build schools — which they never completed. A Malawi Kwacha 187 million scandal was uncovered at the Ministry of Education where, in a number of cases, people had won contracts to build school blocks and were paid for work they did not do or complete. The case has not been concluded despite the massive evidence.
A President mistrusted
President Bakili Muluzi continues to tell Malawians that the UDF has brought free primary education to the country. But children continue to learn under trees in spite of changing times. A retired lady teacher with over 30 years teaching experience, says: «In the 1950s and 1960s, we were taught under trees. It’s unfortunate my grandchildren should still have to learn under trees.»
President Muluzi has been visiting primary schools since he came to power in 1994. Although the country faces acute shortage of school buildings, the President has been dishing out money at all his rallies, plus distributing free maize. Malawians do not understand his priorities as he’s continued with his free maize distribution, in spite of the ending of such distributions in June. In addition, President Muluzi is sponsoring a football club which used to be called the Bata Bullets Football Club, and is now known as the Bakili Bullets. He sent the entire team to the United Kingdom whereas Malawi’s national soccer team, The Flames, have problems finding necessary sponsorship.
In 2002, the Malawi Government launched the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), a roadmap for all Malawi’s development endeavours. The PRSP is also intended to help in prioritising all poverty reduction programmes. But citizens are hard put to understand what «priorities» really mean for their President. An example: On 27 September, President Muluzi paid for fans to watch the first leg of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Castle Cup at Chichiri Stadium in Blantyre, between Malawi and Zimbabwe. (Incidentally, Malawi lost 2-1). The President’s «gift» did not go down well with some people. Writing to the Nation‘s editor on 1 October, Joseph Makiyi said: «Our hospitals have no medicine and people are dying without being attended to, yet the President felt football needed urgent attention. How does he prioritise his generosity?»
Meeting the education sector’s needs
Meeting the needs of the education sector will not be easy. Malawi is a very poor country, with a per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of less than US $200. The majority of the people live in abject poverty. They are just surviving on the poverty line. Despite free primary education, many families are finding it difficult to provide other necessities such as school uniforms and other clothes plus the school textbooks. No wonder there is a high drop-out rate.
In spite of their poverty, parents continue to send their children to public schools, but the nation’s current socio-economic environment is making it difficult for teachers to do their job properly. For example, teachers in Kauma Primary School, Lilongwe, have to live some distance from the school and find it difficult to meet their transport costs to and from the school. The result is, they go to the school only once or twice a week, depending on the availability of money for transport costs. In the long run, it’s the pupils who suffer the most.
In a 2003 Budget Monitoring Exercise, the CSCBE found that «by the time pupils enter Standard 8, their numbers are down by 30% from when they enroled in Standard One». This means the majority of pupils do not complete primary education.
Free primary education is an important stepping stone towards developing a child’s personality. But what chance is there for Malawi’s children, living in a country with a sinking economy, collapsing infrastructures and its government failing to establish genuine priorities. Yes. Free primary education remains wishful thinking and Malawi’s school children face disaster.
- Patrick Mawaya, Malawi, October 2003 — © Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment