Malawi Government Addresses Reading Challenges in Primary Schools with Letter Writing Competition
Government Reports Less Than 1% of Primary School Learners Can Read
LILONGWE, MALAWI — In an effort to improve the culture of reading among students, the Malawi government organised a letter-writing competition, writes Judgement Katika.
Leadness Mbeye, a Form 1 student from Lilongwe Girls Secondary School, emerged as the winner.
During the awarding ceremony held in Lolingwe, the Director for Quality Assurance and Standards in the Ministry of Education, Professor Golden Msilimba, announced that only 0.8 percent of learners in the country are able to read in primary schools.
The government has implemented strategies to address this issue, including training teachers to equip students.
"The country is struggling in the leading culture, and the government is making every effort to improve the reading culture among students in both primary and secondary schools," said Professor Msilimba.
Barnet Namacha, the acting Director for postal services at the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA), expressed satisfaction with the competition's attendance and noted an improvement in the reading culture.
Leadness' winning letter highlighted her commitment to making all roads in the country safer for children if she were to become president.
The competition, which received 338 entries, marked an increase from the 212 entries in the previous year.
Participating schools included Likuni Girls Secondary School, Livimbo CDSS, Chipasula Secondary School, and Lilongwe Girls Secondary School.
The letter-writing competition serves as a step towards cultivating a stronger reading culture in Malawi's primary schools.