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National Education Policy (NEP) Government of the Republic of Malawi National Education Policy (NEP) December, 2013 Ministry of Education, Science and Technology P/Bag 328, Lilongwe 3 Tel: 0 1789 422 Fax: 01 788 064 ii Foreword The National Education Policy (NEP) is designed to respond to the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II (MGDS II) and various related national education policies including regional and international protocols on education. The policy recognizes that Early Childhood Education (ECD), primary and secondary education is critical foundations to tertiary education. It further recognizes the importance of inclusion of special needs education, out-of-school youth and adult literacy in the education sector. The NEP attempts to define the provision of quality education in a holistic manner through expanded access and equity, improved quality and relevance, and improved governance and management. The NEP is the Malawi Government’s document that spells out government policy on education. It outlines the sector’s priorities and defines the country’s education policies that will guide the development of the education sector in Malawi. The government recognizes that education is the backbone for socio-economic development, economic growth and a major source of economic empowerment for all people especially women, the youth and the physically challenged. It also has a strong impact on literacy; behaviour in terms of reproductive, maternal and child health; and on knowledge of HIV and AIDS. The policy also subscribes itself to the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) to development, planning and financing of the education sector in line with the Malawi Development Assistance Strategy and Sector Working Group Guidelines. Furthermore, the NEP recognizes the government’s commitment to related international protocols such as the Education for All (EFA), Jomtien (1990), Dakar (1991), Ouagadougou (1993) and Copenhagen and Beijing (1995) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which recognize the importance of making education available to all. It is, therefore, expected that the coming together of all key players in the education sector will make a significant difference in Malawi, and thereby respond to the national and international aspirations and expectations. By building an educated and highly skilled population, Malawi will not only achieve accelerated economic growth and development, but it will also aim towards the achievement of the MDGs. The government is committed to spearhead the implementation of specific strategies and focused actions pursued to ensure that the NEP becomes the centre of the education sector. I, therefore, call upon all stakeholders and development partners to use the NEP as a guideline for education interventions on skills development among Malawians. Hon. Dr. Lucious Kanyumba M.P. Minister of Education, Science and Technology Preface The Malawi education system has since independence been guided by plans which have always been linked to National Development Policies and manpower studies and surveys. The first Education Plan (1973 – 1980) and the second Education Sector Development Plan (1985 – 1995), the Policy Investment Framework (PIF) (2000), and the National Education Sector Plan (NESP) 2008-2017, have helped in fulfilling the aspirations of the national education long term vision and provision of guidelines for education development at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. With this development, it is however, critical to highlight that education planning has been done without a comprehensive policy framework. Thus, there is need for clear policy articulation for proper guidance of the sector, hence the development of the National Education Policy (NEP). The government has identified the education sector as one of the nine priorities among priorities in the nation’s development agenda. The government’s commitment to the education sector is, therefore, underlined by the increase in funding to the sector. Despite the high proportion of the government budget allocation to education, the demands of expansion and quality education leaves the sector seriously under-funded. However, the cooperating partners have increased their support to the education sector significantly through the Education Sector Wide Approach (ESWAp). The government has also sought and encouraged partnerships with other education providers, most notably, NGOs and religious organizations. The formulation of this policy was an extensive consultative process which included key stakeholders that helped to identify key issues that needed special attention. The development of the policy also incorporated guiding principles and contents of the already developed frameworks contained in several documents guiding the nation’s course of development and programs. The NEP is intended to stand out as one guiding living document to inform the education system in all its obligations to achieving relevant and equitable education. It is, therefore, critical for all sectors of the economy to play their roles towards the realization of the policy’s objectives. The government expects that the coming together of all key players in the implementation of the NEP will make a significant difference in Malawi, and thereby respond to the national and international aspirations and expectations. The critical roles of local communities, development partners and the private sector are recognized. MacPhail Magwira (PhD) Secretary for Education, Science and Technology ii List of Abbreviations and Acronyms AIDS CBCC Community Based Childcare Centre CBE Complementary Basic Education CPD Continued Professional Development CDSS Community Day Secondary School CSS Conventional Secondary School DEC Distance Education Centre DEM District Education Manager DIAS Directorate of Inspection and Supervision DTED Department of Teacher Education DTEVET Department of Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training ECD Early Childhood Development EDM Education Division Manager EFA Education for All EMIS Education Management Information System ESIP Education Sector Implementation Plan E-SWAp Education Sector Wide Approach FPE Free Primary Education GABLE Girls Attainment in Basic Literacy Education HR Human Resource INSET In-service Training IPTE Initial Primary Teacher Education IRI Interactive Radio Instruction JCE Junior Certificate of Education MACOHA Malawi Council for the Handicapped MANEB Malawi National Examination Board MCDE Malawi College of Distance Education MDG Millennium Development Goals MEP Malawi Education Policy MGDS II Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II MIE Malawi Institute of Education MIITEP Malawi Integrated In-service Education MNCU Malawi National Commission for UNESCO NALP National Adult Literacy Programme MNLS Malawi National Library Service MSCE Malawi School Certificate of Education MoEST Ministry of Education Science and Technology MOLG RD Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development iii MTEF Medium Term Expenditure Framework NER Net Enrolment Ratio NESP National Education Sector Plan NGO Non-Governmental Organization ODL Open Distance Learning ODSS Open Day Secondary School OSS Open Secondary School OVC Orphan and Vulnerable Children PCR Pupil Classroom Ratio PEA Primary Education Advisor PIF Policy Investment Framework PSLCE Primary School Leaving Certificate PTR Pupil Teacher Ratio SCAR Secondary Curriculum and Assessment Review SHN School Health Nutrition SMC School Management Committee SNE Special Needs Education SSA Sub-Saharan Africa SWAP Sector Wide Approach TDC Teacher Development Centre TEVET Technical Entrepreneurial Vocational Education and Training TQF Technical Qualification Framework TSC Teaching Service Commission TTC Teacher Training College TUM Teachers Union of Malawi UCE University Certificate in Education UNESCO United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization UNIMA University of Malawi iv GLOSSARY Continued Professional Development: A structured approach to learning to help ensure competence to practice, taking in knowledge, skills and practical experience. Early Childhood Education: It is a term that refers to educational programs and strategies geared toward children from birth to the age of eight. Early childhood education often focuses on guiding children to learn through play. The term often refers to preschool or infant/child care programs. Education Sector Wide Approach: It is the modality of funding that brings together the government, the development partners and other stakeholders in the education sector Enrollment: The total number of pupils/students who have registered in a class or school during the current school year. Free Primary Education: Primary education which is tuition free Junior Certificate of Education: National examinations which are administered at the end of two years of secondary schooling Net enrolment ratio: The number of children of official primary school - age who are enrolled in primary education as a percentage of the total children of the official school age population. Open day secondary school: Secondary schools that operate at various centers including existing secondary schools and are managed by Distance Education Center v Open distance learning: Open learning and distance education refers to approaches to learning that focus on freeing learners from constraints of time and place while offering flexible learning opportunities. And /or any educational process in which all or most of the teaching is conducted by someone geographically removed from the learner, with all
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