By Jordan Simeon-Phiri
Malawi’s Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Navicha has implored men in the country to enroll for Adult Literacy classes to become knowledgeable and contribute significantly to the country's socio-economic development.
The Minister made the call on Tuesday at Uliwa school ground in Traditional Authority Wasambo in Karonga District (Northern Region of Malawi) at this year's International Literacy Day commemorations, saying globally, 754 million adults don't know how to write, read and calculate.
In Malawi, about five out of 20 million people are also in a similar situation and 35 percent of these are women who live in rural areas. This is why government in collaboration with partners are establishing Community Learning Centres to reduce the gap in line with the National Adult Literacy Strategy which aims at producing over 2 million adult literacy graduates by 2027.
Navicha also emphasised that it is people who know how to write, read and calculate that can preserve natural resources, fight effects of climate change, operate businesses and understand health and agriculture messages.
According to Navicha, these efforts are to make Malawians productive in line with government's long term blue print Malawi 2063 agenda.
This day is significant because we commemorate a program that gives an opportunity to adults to learn how to write, read and calculate for them to make an informed decision on matters of national interest.
Earlier on, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare director of Community Development Clotilda Sawasawa said the programme is bearing fruits, saying since 2025, over 100 000 adults have completed their studies.
Out of these, 70 percent are women. To show our commitment, in 2024, government raised instructors' monthly honorarium from K15 000 to K30 000.
On his part, Karonga District Commissioner Willard Mwambo while thanking government for taking the event to Karonga district said the district has 288 adult literacy classes which give a second chance to those who did not finish school while young.
We have the enrolment of 4 059 adults with 218 men only while 3 841 women attend adult literacy classes. We need collaborative efforts to encourage men to patronise these classes.
In an interview, one of the partners, DVV International Southern Africa regional director Johann Heilmann said adult literacy programme is vital as it shapes the development of the people and open new doors and opportunities.
Knowing how to read, write and numerical skills change one's thinking capacity towards the country's socio-economic development. Therefore, people should know that learning does not end regardless of one's location and status.
This year's theme is: "Enhancing Literacy for People of Malawi, the Planet and Prosperity".