Malawi Graduates New Science Teachers to Boost Rural Education
LILONGWE, Malawi— Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) has graduated 43 science teachers sponsored by the EQUALS project, aiming to improve science education in remote areas of Malawi, writes Chisomo Sumani, MANA.
The graduates were part of a larger cohort of 745 students who received degrees Thursday.
The EQUALS project seeks to upgrade qualifications of in-service teachers through a University Certificate of Education (UCE) program launched in 2022.
Dr. Matthews Mkandawire, EQUALS project coordinator at LUANAR, said, "The education system is suffering a lot in terms of performance in community day secondary schools in the rural areas in particular and we want to change that."
The nine-month UCE program, introduced by the government, prepares Bachelor of Science graduates for teaching roles in secondary schools.
Education Minister Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima praised the initiative: "We cannot speak of education if we do not have a teacher at the center to educate the masses."
Dorothy Tiwonge Luwe, a graduate now teaching at St. Mary's Girls Secondary School in Karonga, expressed gratitude for the program.
"EQUALS will change my life, especially my profession," she said.
The project's first phase targeted 172 science and mathematics teachers, with 155 registering. Three institutions — MZUNI, LUANAR and UNIMA — offer the UCE training.
Plans are underway to enroll additional teachers in a second cohort to further increase the number of qualified educators.