The Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) has commenced a seven-day national Phase II workshop aimed at developing pedagogical course outlines for the new Primary Teacher Education Curriculum.
The workshop has brought together lecturers from both public and private universities, including the University of Malawi, Mzuzu University, Catholic University of Malawi, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, University of Livingstonia, and the Malawi University of Science and Technology. Representatives from one private and all public Teacher Training Colleges are also participating.
Participants are collaboratively developing 20 course outlines in key learning areas, including Languages, STEM, Humanities, and Expressive Arts. The outlines are being designed to ensure alignment with the new curriculum and assessment framework and Malawi’s national education priorities.
Opening the workshop, MIE Acting Executive Director, Mr. Jennings Kayira, emphasized the importance of full participation and commitment. He noted that Malawi’s education future depends on the quality of work being undertaken during the workshop.
“The quality of the teachers we produce, and ultimately the quality of learning for millions of Malawian children, depends on the work you do in this room,” he said.
The Guest of Honour, Dr. Florida Banda Kumwembe, Director of Teacher Education and representative of the Secretary for Education, urged participants to ensure coherence and uphold the highest standards of quality in curriculum design.
“We have no excuse for a poorly constructed curriculum. The course outline must clearly define what to teach, how to teach, and how to assess,” she stressed.
The outcomes of the workshop are expected to play a critical role in strengthening teacher preparation and improving learning outcomes across Malawi’s primary education system.