MANGOCHI, April 23, 2024
A significant stride towards educational reform was initiated yesterday as the National Education Conference on School and College Curricula and Assessment Review officially opened at Sunbird Nkopola in Mangochi. The conference, scheduled from April 22 to April 24, is set to tackle pivotal themes around curriculum change and innovation, aiming to realign Malawi’s educational framework with both national and global development goals.
Secretary for Education, Associate Professor Mangani Chilala Katundu, inaugurated the conference with a compelling speech that highlighted the aspirations of Malawi’s educational sector under the global and national policy frameworks. Emphasising the synergy between the conference’s goals and the Malawi 2063 vision, Associate Professor Katundu underscored the urgent need for a curriculum that is not only inclusive and equitable but also capable of preparing the Malawian youth for the demands of the 21st century and the fourth industrial revolution.
The conference’s welcome remarks by the Executive Director for the Malawi Institute of Education, Dr Frank Mtemang’ombe, were also marked by a deep appreciation for the stakeholders involved, from government officials to academia and international partners, whose collective efforts are deemed crucial for the transformative agenda set forth. Dr. Mtemang’ombe specifically thanked the Malawi Institute of Education and its staff for their tireless work in organising the event, which promises to foster discussions that are vital for the advancement of the educational sector in Malawi.
The highlights of conference sessions include integrating contemporary issues such as ICT, gender sensitivity, climate change, and entrepreneurship into school and college curricula. With a special focus on foundational learning, particularly literacy and numeracy, the Secretary for Education announced plans to expand school feeding programs and increase digitalisation in education through initiatives like the Building Education Foundations Through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) and virtual science laboratories (MiLab).
The conference theme, “Curriculum Change and Innovation – Towards Achieving an Inclusively Wealthy and Self-reliant Nation,” critically examines the connection between the intended, implemented, and achieved curricula. The discussions over the three days are expected to yield actionable insights that will inform ongoing and future curriculum reviews.
As the conference progresses to Wednesday 24 April, it is anticipated that the collaborative discussions and presentations will contribute significantly to shaping a robust educational framework that aligns with Malawi’s developmental aspirations and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Katundu’s address concluded with a call to all delegates to engage deeply with the issues at hand and contribute towards a fruitful deliberation process that will ultimately benefit the nation’s educational landscape. With the official proceedings underway, the conference is set to be a cornerstone event in reshaping Malawi’s approach to education and its implementation across various levels.