By Dyson Mthawanji
On Thursday 30th November, 2023, the Malawi’s Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare launched the National Adult Literacy and Education Strategic Plan (2022-2027). The goal of this strategy, which was launched in Malawi’s capital city Lilongwe, is to increase literacy, enhance skills development and education through lifelong learning among adults for effective participation in personal, community and national development by 2027.
The launch was spiced with Malawi’s Government’s call for joint efforts to increase integrated adult education programmes across the country.
The minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza, who was the guest of honour at the event, said more adult education programmes should go beyond literacy and numeracy.
Sendeza said: “Apart from teaching how to read and write, and arithmetic, adult literacy programmes should also provide opportunities for the acquisition of knowledge and skills in areas such as agriculture, business management, family planning, nutrition and home management, hygiene and sanitation, natural resources and environmental management, human rights, leadership and democracy at local levels .
The successful launch of the strategy follows Malawi’s milestone of having the National Adult Literacy and Education Policy which was approved by Malawi Government in 2020
DVV International which provided both technical and financial support towards the development of the strategy emphasized the need for stakeholders in the Adult Learning and Education (ALE) sector to work closely in implementing the launched Strategic Plan.
Speaking on to the media at the sidelines of the launch, DVV International Regional Director for Southern Africa Gerhard Quincke observed that stakeholders’ collaboration is key in implementing the strategy to spur meaningful purposes for local community development.
“This strategic plan aims at bringing all stakeholders together and harnessing their efforts to, among other things, strengthen the policy and legal environment for implementation of Adult Literacy and Education (ALE) programmes.
“The strategy also aims at increasing inclusive and accessible literacy and enhancing skills development and education among adults for effective participation in personal, community and national development by 2027. Therefore, we call for total collaboration and commitment in the implementation of the strategy,” said Quincke.
The vision of the strategy is to see that Malawi has inclusive, equitable and sustainable adult literacy and skills programmes that are accessing for all. This vision marries well with the Sustainable Development Goal Number 4 which also calls for education for all. In order to achieve the set vision, the strategy will be guided by partnerships, collaboration and networking among other values and principles.
Sendeza, however, acknowledged short supply of teaching and learning materials for ALE in Malawi. She observed that this challenge continues hampering efforts to reach out to more adults with basic reading, writing and numeracy skills.The minister, therefore, said the launch of the National Adult Literacy and Education Strategy marks a significant government’s commitment to advancing education and enlightenment among the youth and adults.
“The strategy provides lifelong learning and a direction to informal skills development for the literates and neo-literates in such areas as saloon, manicure, pedicure, barbering, tyre fitting, motorbike maintenance, tailoring, phone repairing, and computer repairing, among others, to ensure self-reliance socially and economically.
“My Ministry is convinced that facilitating mind-set change and promoting self-reliance among community members ensures attainment of sustainable development at individual, community and national levels. I, therefore, urge all stakeholders to identify areas in the strategy which they will support, and report on progress annually until 2027. This will help us monitor the attainment of strategic objectives. It will also help us to take timely action where we are off-track or lagging behind,” said Sendeza.
According to her, the last time some teaching and learning materials were procured using government resources was in 2012, when at least every literacy centre received a consignment of learning materials and very few of them are still available today for the literacy classes.
At the start of the event, the Sendeza, accompanied by German ambassador to Malawi, Ute König, Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe, DVV International-Malawi Board chairperson Ruth Mwandira and other dignitaries, visited various pavilions which showcased different works under ALE. One of the displayed items were the locally made shirts which were done by local tailors that were trained under the Community Learning Centres (CLCs). The CLCs are implemented by DVV International in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender. These centers are designed to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for adults to engage in learning activities, acquire new skills, and enhance their knowledge.
König urged Malawi Government to channel resources in terms of personnel, infrastructure and finance to make ALE operational to communities, adult educators, without whom, ALE cannot succeed. “Germany through its Federal Ministry of economic cooperation and development (BMZ), which works here [Malawi] in this context through DVV International is ready to support this noble effort,” said König.
Speaking on behalf of Civil Society organisations, Kondowe highlighted the importance of adult education in both community and national development. “Let us heed the call for unity, recognizing that the synergy between government and CSOs is the cornerstone of a truly inclusive education system,” said Kondowe.
Malawi Government statistics show that illiteracy rate among women is at 35.2 percent and 19.4 percent among men in rural areas. While in urban areas, 5.6 percent of men are illiterate compared to 10 percent of women.
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