The Government's commitment to the education sector is underlined by the increase in funding to the sector, which is now the highest of all other sectors. Our cooperating partners have also increased their support to the education sector significantly. Meanwhile, the government has sought and encouraged partnerships with other education providers, most notably, NGOs and religious organizations. The critical roles of local communities and the private sector are also being recognized.

The impetus for the 2000-2012 RIF is two-fold. The first is that many of the changes that have taken place in the past six years have been largely unplanned for. They have been responses to emerging challenges and not part of a well-designed national strategy based on clearly articulated policies. Second, despite the high proportion of the Government budget going to education, the demands of expansion and quality education, leaves the sector seriously under-funded.

It is in view of the above challenges that the Government of Malawi has come up with a planned strategy known as the Policy & Investment Framework (PIF) for the education sector. The PIF approach, which will be reflected in the other sectors, spells out Government policy on education, the programmes that deserve the most attention and through the linked Mid-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) budgets for these programmes within the available financial resource package.

This document thus defines the country's educational policies and outlines the MoES&C's priority programmes during the next 12 years. Indicative figures on the financing of priority programmes are also given. It however needs to be stressed that this document is not complete. The PIF will remain a "living and dynamic document". It will always need to be updated as the education sector in particular and the economy in general present new challenges and prospects. The document is thus a basic working tool, which is a guide to the kind of work that needs to be done within the various education sub-sectors.

This document has been the product of considerable consultation among the various educational stakeholders throughout 1999. In line with its policy of developing partnerships with all the relevant stakeholders, the MoES&C shall ensure that the RIF is disseminated widely in search of critical and constructive feedback. In particular, the MoES&C will engage in constructive dialogue with the donor community with the aim of reaching some consensus on an eventual sector wide approach to funding education through the combined resources of government, the private sector and external assistance.

Charles D Nthenda,

Secretary for Education

Ministry of Education, Sports & Culture

February 2000

1. The Policy & Investment Framework (PIF) is based on a comprehensive analysis of the education sector in Malawi. It proposes policies that will guide the development of the education sector in Malawi as it enters the new millennium. Although significant policy changes have been made in the past decade, they were in most cases partial and aimed at redressing problems inherited from the past and rarely sought to address the educational challenges of the future.
2. The PIF is education's response to the Government of Malawi policy of poverty alleviation and addresses the national educational goals as spelt out in Vision 2020. Increased investment in education contributes to economic and social development. Only an educated populace can best exploit Malawi's rich natural resources' base. Moreover, an educated populace is fully able to participate in a democratic society, is fully aware of its cultural heritage and of the need to further develop its culture, and to participate actively in the African and global communities.
3. The PIF appreciates the fact that Malawi's education system cannot contribute significantly to the alleviation of poverty unless the main constraints facing the system are addressed. An analysis of the Malawi's education system has identified these challenges to be: limited and unequal access to educational opportunity; declining education quality; a school curriculum which does not effectively address individual and societal needs; poor planning and management capacity; and inadequate financing.
4. In recognition of Malawi government's commitment to basic education as evidenced by the declaration of Free Primary Education in 1994, the PIT underlines the need for paying the greatest attention to the basic education sub-sector. This is in keeping with Article 28 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child which guarantees the right of the child to a basic education of minimum quality and to which Malawi is a signatory as well as with the Constitution of Malawi which enshrines this right thereby giving it the power of law.

5 The PIF proposes five main objectives for the education system. The first is to increase access to educational opportunities for all Malawians at all levels of the system. The goal is to increase the net enrolment ratio (NER) in all districts to 95 % by the year 2015. At the secondary school level, the intention is to increase the GER ratio from the current 18 % of the relevant age cohort to 30 %. At the tertiary level, the target is to raise the participation of the relevant age cohort in tertiary institutions from the current 0.3 % to I %. The PIF's strategy seeks to minimize the tradeoffs among these sub-sectors while assigning the highest priority to accelerated progress towards universal primary schooling because universal primary education gives the highest social returns to investment - a more economically active, informed, healthier and participatory population. In recognition of this, the PIF proposes measures for alleviating the problems of poor attendance, enrollment, repetition and dropout at all levels of the system. At the primary school level where these problems are particularly acute, the PIF suggests strategies, which will help reduce repetition and dropout rates to less than 5 % in grades I to 7 and to less than IO% in grade 8.

6 Secondly, the PIF stresses the need for ensuring that Malawi's education system does not intensify existing inequalities across social groups and regions. The PIF identifies strategies, including bursary schemes, for improving the participation of girls and women, children with special needs and other disadvantaged youths and that of rural communities at all levels of the education system. At the primary, secondary and tertiary levels the intention is to increase female participation to at least 50% of the total enrollment at all levels of the education system.

7 The third objective is to maintain and improve the quality and relevance of education. Quality improvement will be addressed by strategies, which aim at combining the right inputs (good physical infrastructure, qualified teachers, and adequate instructional materials), the right processes (good management, effective teaching/learning, effective supervision and fair examinations), and the right outputs (motivated and well-educated students, capable of contributing to the development of the nation. With regard to the relevance of Malawi's education system, the PIF calls for ongoing reviews of the curriculum to ensure that it addresses the needs of individual school goers as well as those of the nation at large more effectively. Because adequate numbers of professionally qualified teachers are critical in promoting quality education, the PIF underlines the need for a quality and sustainable teacher-training programme especially for primary and secondary institutions.

8 The fourth objective is to develop an institutional and financial framework that will sustain Malawian schools and students into the future. Thus the PIF advocates for the strengthening of the capacity of the Ministry of Education, Sports & Culture (MoES&C) and relevant institutions to plan and manage educational programmes more cost-effectively. Likewise, the capacity of MoES&C's complimentary institutions will be strengthened so that these institutions are better able to promote quality and relevant education.

9 Finally, the PIF recognizes that the proposed changes are unlikely to be achieved with the current level of funding from Government while appreciating that the Government is unlikely to spend more that the current 27 % of the national budget on education. The main thrust of the policy is that those in society who can afford it will be asked to share in the cost of education provision while ensuring that the poorer sections of society are not forced to drop out of school because of inability to pay. The PIF recognizes the roles that communities and the private sector can play in the development of education and proposes strategies that will encourage an increase in private investment in the sector. The PIF also addresses the concerns of donors who have indicated their willingness to increase funding on the basis of a fully developed PIF.

10 The main thrust of the PIF is to ensure the implementation of Universal Primary Education (UPE. This will require allocating additional funds which can be secured through four main strategies: a) increasing government spending on education, b) allocating more of the education budget to the primary sub-sector, c) introducing cost-sharing at secondary and tertiary levels, and d) providing the enhanced policy environment to increase private investment in education. While recognising the fact that post-secondary education enhances ones productivity and prepares individual Malawians for positions of responsibility in business, the professions and in government, the PIF recommends that more cot-sharing and private initiatives in educational provision are called for.

I I Successful implementation of the PIF will require close cooperation between the MoES&C and the full range of education stakeholders including parents, local communities, employers, NGOs and religious organizations all of whom will be called upon to assume significantly larger roles in educational finance and governance. It will also require continued financial support from the Ministry's international partners. Such partnerships will be guided by clear guidelines on the respective roles and responsibilities of these stakeholder groups and thus calls for relevant collaboration, liaison, consultation and consensus building.

12 The PIF will be implemented through two major strategies, one political and one technical. On the political front, the introduction of District Assemblies has the potential of creating the kind of decentralized system, which will energize local communities to actively participate in their own development. On the technical front, the implementation of the MTEF process will ensure that policy goals match priority programmes, with a much greater focus on outputs and outcomes.

1 3 Implementation of the PIF programmes will be incremental and will benefit from regular reviews and monitoring. It will also require the enacting of relevant legislation to remove any obstacles to successful implementation as well as to give any reforms the force of law. Moreover, after it's approval, the PIF will be the basis for the development of a new Education Act.

I .Basic education is expanded beyond the provision of primary education. It embraces pre-school provision, adult education and literacy as well as school health and nutrition.

2. Decentralization will devolve responsibility for primary education to the District Assemblies.

3. The share of the budget devoted to primary education shall increase from 62% to at least 65%.

4. Dropout and repetition rates will be reduced through a combination of advocacy and structural change.

5. Primary schools will become full community primary schools through increasing the autonomy of school management committees.

6. A national assessment system will be established to determine minimum learning requirements at all grade levels.

7. Government shall provide enabling enviromnent for children with special needs and shall encourage them to benefit from the resource provided and enrolment of such children shall improve from the present 5% to 20% by 2012.

I .A unified system of public secondary education will be developed, unifying the various kinds of government secondary institutions.

2. The private sector will be encouraged to invest in secondary education; however, strict regulatory systems will be put in place to ensure that acceptable standards are maintained.

3. Selection to secondary education will be based on the principle of local catchment area, in pursuance of the goal of creating a national system of Day secondary schools.

4. Government will withdraw support to secondary boarding facilities. The system of local recruitment will reduce the need for boarding; however, where boarding is deemed necessary, parents will bear the full costs.

5. Secondary school pupils should be encouraged to invest in their education to approximately 50% of the cost of secondary education.

6. Government should progressively give schools greater autonomy and accountability in the utilization of school finances as a way of increasing school effectiveness and higher academic achievement.

7. Cost sharing will be introduced in a gradual and systematic manner.

8. A textbook cost-recovery fee will be introduced to ensure a sustainable instructional materials system.

9. The curriculum of secondary education will be revised to make it more relevant to the needs of the 21st century. Computer skills will be introduced, systematically and gradually in all secondary schools.

10. Secondary examinations will be reformed. School-based assessment will replace the JCE. The MSCE will be revisited and reformed in order to improve management (reduce cheating and reduce marking/reporting time) and to make it more responsive to the needs of the public and private sectors.

I .A Teacher Education Department located at the MoES&C headquarters shall be responsible for all teacher education and development matters.

2. The percentage of unqualified primary teachers will be reduced from the current level of 50% to IO% by 2012.

3. The School Support System will be expanded and strengthened.

4. All teachers in Community Day secondary schools will have a minimum secondary school teacher qualification.

5. Secondary teacher training will be revised to produce more flexible teachers.

6. Secondary teacher/student ratios will be fixed at 1/40.

7. A National Teacher Education and Development Programme will be developed by the end 2000.

I .By 2012 the number of students receiving tertiary education will increase three-fold. This will be achieved through a more intensified use of existing facilities, distance education programmes and modern information technology teaching strategies.

2. The number of female students will increase from the current 29% to 50% by 2012. A large proportion of these students will be encouraged to enroll in non-traditional fields of study.

3. Cost sharing measures will be implemented and non-academic services shall be privatized.

4. The administration of public universities shall be decentralised.

5. The private sector will be actively encouraged to invest in tertiary education.

I. Public financing of education will be selectively increased.

2. Greater cost-sharing and cost- recovery will target students who benefit most from education and who are most able to pay for it.

3. Higher levels of private sector financing, including the contributions from communities will be encouraged.

4. Increased external financing in response to clearly identified needs, strategies and the effective management of reforms will be promoted.

5. Funds will be brought as near as possible to the service providers, that is, to schools rather than central or divisional authorities.

6. The MTEF system will be fully implemented from FY 2000/1.

7. The Sector Wide Approach to financing education will be the main focus of future financial planning for the MoES&C.

 VI Proposed Implementation Schedule: 2000

2.2.1 The secondary sub-sector has also witnessed some noticeable growth (see Figure 2.2).Approximately 65,000 students are enrolled in conventional and private secondary schools. Almost another 100,000 are registered in Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSSs). Since 1994, 31 new secondary schools have been opened. However, secondary school enrollment for the relevant age cohort remains one of the lowest in Africa.

 Figure 2.2 Enrolment in Secondary Schools by Gender (1987-97)

2.2.2 Perhaps the more significant development in the secondary school sub-sector relates to the promulgation of relevant policy and strategic framework for creating the appropriate environment for secondary school expansion. In 1998 the Government announced policy changes meant to expand secondary school opportunity. As a result of the new policy, DECs have been transformed into Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSSs). Second, secondary selection will be decentralized and boarding schools will be phased out, as the emphasis will shift to a system of selection based on local catchment areas. In addition, the private sector will be encouraged to contribute much more to the provision of secondary school education. Although cost sharing measures will be introduced with the aim of ensuring that available Government resources benefit as many Malawians as possible, every effort will be made to ensure that secondary school education is not a privilege of the well to do.

2.3.1 Gains have also been realized in the area of teacher training. Following the dramatic rise in primary school enrolments with the announcement of FPE, the Government recruited 22,000 temporary teachers. The Malawi Integrated In-service Teacher Education (MIlTEP) programme was introduced to cater for the training needs of these new recruits. To date 16,000 teachers have gone through the MIITEP program. MIITEP trainees benefit from a phased programme that is supplemented by hand books and other training materials. A system of field support is now in place to complement the residential phase of the program. The network of teacher development centres, which, is emerging in all districts, will enhance the field support. In addition, gains have been made in the area of setting up systems for teacher support (Malawi Schools Support Systems Programme) and for their continued professional development.

2.3.2 There have also been significant developments in the area of secondary teacher education. The establishment of Domasi College of Education has substantially increased the output of secondary school teachers. Chancellor College recently mounted a University Certificate of Education Course for secondary school teachers who have no training in the area of education. Finally, Mzuzu University has mounted a degree programme in education with the aim of supplementing education graduate output of Chancellor College.

2.4.1 The most significant development at the tertiary sub-sector is the opening of Mzuzu University. The capacities of the University of Malawi colleges have risen slightly or been maintained. Enrollments at the university level have rose from 3,535 in 1995 to 3,771 in 1999. Other positive developments within the university sector have included attempts by the University of Malawi Colleges to reach out more to the wider community and to continue providing the middle and high-level manpower for the country's civil service and the private sector.

 3.1 Access

The Government aims at developing and providing quality basic education for every child in an effective partnership with relevant stakeholders. The purpose of primary education is to equip students with basic knowledge and skills to allow them to function as competent and productive citizens in a free society. The provision of primary education will be the main contribution of the education sector to poverty alleviation.

(a) Policies

1. Equal access for all children to quality primary education shall be the main thrust of Government policy on basic education access. Net enrolment ratio shall increase to 95 % by 2007.

2. The Government shall develop and implement a more coherent strategy on basic education issues such as pre-school provision, adult education and literacy and school health and nutrition. Relevant strategy documents shall be produced by 2002 and adult literacy rate shall improve from the estimated 65% to 85% over PIF period.

3. Government shall promote the development of pre-school facilities so that an increasing number of children have access to pre-school facilities.

4. Government shall promote strong partnerships with other basic education providers with the aim of strengthening the involvement of private education providers.

5. Minimum entry into primary education shall be 6 years of age while the maximum age of entry shall be I I years. Average age range in a class will reduce from IO+ years to 5 years.

6. The MoES&C shall promote a double shift system for those schools that are adequately equipped for such an innovation as a way of expanding access.

(b) Strategies

1. More schools and classrooms will be built, based on clearly identified needs and priorities especially in areas where there is under-provision. Classroom stock will increase from 25,000 in 1997 to 40,000 in 2012.

2. Existing schools will be improved, renovated and maintained. Pupil: permanent classroom ratio will improve from II 9 in 1997 to 80 in 2012.

3. Census, school mapping and coordinated data collection exercises will be organised which will specify the areas of greatest need, in terms of provision and maintenance of school infrastructure, facilities and resources.

4. A series of strategies, incorporating elements of civic education, which will highlight the benefits of education and increase the participation of communities and other stakeholders in the education process will be developed and implemented.

5. The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture will actively seek closer links with the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Community Services, the Ministry of Health and Population and the Ministry of the Disabled to generate discussion and debate on areas of mutual interest. These enhanced links will lead to the identification of strategies and plans of action to tackle basic education issues in a more holistic manner.

6. The government will enact appropriate legislation to ensure the necessary enabling environment to encourage the provision of quality private primary education in order to increase the number of pupils in private primary schools.

7. The Government shall establish guidelines on community participation in primary education provision while taking into account significant variations among different communities.

(a) Policies

1. Government shall provide an enabling environment for children with special educational needs and for the underprivileged within the conventional school system.

2. Government shall be proactive in its investigation of strategies needing to be introduced, to make education all-inclusive. Specific target groups to include: orphans (especially those whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS); children with special educational needs; girls; and out-of-school youth.

3. Special needs education shall be afforded a priority status with the aim of getting a higher number of pupils with special education needs to complete the primary education cycle.

4.Gender equity shall be promoted by making the school an environment supportive of the needs of both boys and girls. The target is increased and equitable participation of boys and girls in basic education. The MoES&C shall put in place appropriate measures to enhance the participation of girls in basic education. The proportion of female pupils enrolled rises from 48% in 1998 to 50% in 2002.

5. The MoES&C shall devise and implement strategies whereby teachers (including female teachers) are encouraged to teach in remote and difficult areas. The proportion of rural schools meeting the 60:1 pupil ratio will increase from 15% in 1997 to 25% in 2002.

6. The needs of students with severe disabilities shall be addressed through setting up a collaborative framework with other Ministries (e.g. Health and Population, Gender Youth & Community Services and Ministry of Persons with Disabilities) and with civic organisations such as MACOHA by the end of 2000.

(b) Strategies

1. The Government will develop and implement a primary education policy aimed at making education at the primary level all-inclusive.

2. The MoES&C will coordinate a social mobilization campaign targeting socially disadvantaged groups, which will aim to boost the participation of out-of-school youth, girls, orphans (especially those whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS) and children with physical and learning difficulties.

3. Children with mild disabilities will be taught in regular schools, supported by teachers with specific training in special education.

4. The physical design and construction of schools will address the needs of children with special needs.

5. The Government will promote the Community Rehabilitation Strategy in the case of pre-school age children, with the objective of helping families cater for children with special needs, so elder female siblings can be released to attend school.

6.The Special Needs Education Support System will be strengthened.

7. The MoES&C will continue the development of gender sensitive instructional materials, sensitisation of teachers to gender issues and through gender-sensitive approaches to teacher education.

8. Community Based Childcare (CBCQ will be promoted in primary schools.

9. MIE & MANEB will continue to devise strategies to ensure that pupils with special needs are not disadvantaged in their efforts to complete their courses of study.

10.The MoES&C will promote the acceptance and operationalisation of the fact that more equitable education will be provided through enhanced partnerships, especially with local communities.

11.The MoES&C will investigate the options of incentive schemes and improved conditions of service for teachers posted to remote and difficult rural areas.

(a) Policies

1. The MoES&C shall establish and maintain agreed minimum standards for the provision of quality teaching and learning in all primary schools. Survival rate to standard 8 shall increase from 20% in 1997 to 30% in 2002.

2. The MoES&C shall strive to promote the capacity of schools to offer a comprehensive range of literacy and numeracy skills.

3. Efforts shall be made to reduce the current pupil - qualified teacher ratio to 60:1 across all primary standards by 2012. The national teacher: pupil ratios in Standards I shall reduce from 134:1 in 1997 to 80:1 in 2007 and 60:1 2012.

4. The MoES&C shall put in place appropriate measures to reduce pupil repetition and early school withdrawal. Repetition rate shall decrease from an average of 15% to 5% in standards 1-7 and to 10% in standard 8. Dropout rate shall reduce to 5% in all standards during the plan period.

5. The MoES&C shall investigate and tackle the main causes of chronic pupil absenteeism in primary schools and will develop and introduce collaborative strategies and measures such as community sensitisation to address the situation. The intention is to increase the daily attendance/enrolment ratio from 60% in 1999 to 80% in 2002 and to I 00% in 2007.

6. Schools shall be required to promote good health and sanitation practices. National pupil: permanent latrine ratio shall decrease from 3 )49: 1 in 1997 to I 00: I by 2007.

7. Schools shall be suitably and cost-effectively constructed so as to enhance effective learning and practical maintenance. National pupil: classroom ratio shall decrease from 119:1 in 1997 to 80:1 in 2007.

8. Government shall establish standards and guidelines for minimum quality infrastructure while taking into account variations in both local conditions and different levels of community expertise,

9. Every effort shall be made to address the rehabilitation and maintenance needs of all schools.

10. The MoES&C shall ensure that each school has an adequate supply of instructional and teaching/learning materials, and that schools have some degree of control and choice over such a supply. The pupil textbook ratio shall improve from an average of 24 pupils per textbook in 1997 to 2 pupils per textbook by 2002.

11. The MoES&C shall improve the distribution of school materials and supplies. It is hoped that by 2002 the distribution of these materials will have improved such that all pupils will be supplied with exercise books and writing materials.

12. Schools shall be encouraged to establish school libraries, allowing pupils greater access to books as a way of improving their literacy levels.

13. The MoES&C shall take relevant action aimed at improving the supervisory, inspection and advisory system. Visits to schools by PEAs shall increase to at least 3 times a year.

14. As a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the quality of primary education, pupil assessment procedures shall be afforded a high priority.

 (b) Strategies

 1. The MoES&C will plan, introduce and promote the concept of 'Whole School Development' process nationally.

2. Future developments of primary school facilities and infrastructure will be in response to identified need.

3. The MoES&C will establish, publish and promote national norms and guidelines for school construction.

4. A schools rehabilitation and maintenance programme will be developed by 2002. The MoES&C will ensure that this programme is implemented and monitored.

5. Guidelines for an acceptable level of water and sanitation provision will be developed. Every effort will be made to provide the minimum necessary health and sanitation facilities, which includes provision of adequate latrines and safe water, and effective health promotion in schools and communities

6. Strategies to improve the supply and distribution of school materials and teaching/learning resources, such as the decentralisation of distribution will be developed and introduced. Such strategies will endeavor to target the most poorly resourced schools.

7. The MoES&C will develop and enforce systems and procedures, which will lead to more efficient use, and functional life of instructional materials.

8. The MoES&C will review and implement the supervisory, inspection and advisory mechanisms and procedures, both at the centre and in the decentralised offices, to provide more effective support to schools and staff.

9. The process of national assessment shall be reviewed and appropriate recommendations for change shall be made in the light of emerging needs and the changes in local catchment recruitment at the secondary level.

10. Appropriate guidance and counseling programmes will be designed and implemented as a way to improve the quality of primary school education.

 (a) Policies

I The MoES&C shall through the MIE be responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of a basic national curriculum, which addresses both the academic and non-academic needs of pupils. The primary school curriculum will be revised by 2002.

2. While every school shall adopt and follow the basic curriculum, schools shall be encouraged to develop and introduce not more than two, non-examinable and skill-focused subjects oriented towards the local enrichment and diversification of curriculum. The equipping of teachers with relevant curriculum development skills shall precede the implementation of this strategy.

3. The MoES&C shall actively encourage the promotion of schools as environments where pupils are enlightened on all communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

(b) Strategies

1. The MoES&C will review, publish, implement and monitor the primary national curriculum starting from 2000.

2. The basic education curriculum and syllabuses will be amended to reinforce the messages related to the social impact and coping strategies of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

(a) Policies

I Goverment shall vigorously pursue its policy of decentralisation of responsibilities and services so as to support schools and to ensure efficiency gains.

2. The system of teacher recruitment and deployment shall be rationalised and decentralised so as to respond to the actual needs of pupils, schools and communities. Districts shall assume the responsibility of recruitment and deployment by 2002.

3. While the Government shall continue to be the main provider of education, parents and communities shall be involved in the management of schools. The intention is increase the percentage of effectively functioning school committees to I 00% by 2012.

4. In respect to school governance, Government shall establish guidelines on community participation and school management, while taking into account significant variations among different communities.

5. The Government shall forge stronger links with all stakeholders in the education process.

(a) Strategies

1. More effective and efficient use of the existing school facilities will be made. Piloting strategies to make more efficient use of school facilities might include multi-grade teaching/learning.

2. Management responsibilities and provision of services to primary schools will be transferred to the district, zonal and school levels.

3. Deployment of personnel, training and resourcing will be strengthened at the district and zonal levels.

4. School management will be supported through training programmes for Primary Education Advisers, senior school staff and school management committees.

5. Teacher recruitment and posting policy will be reviewed so teachers are more efficiently recruited and deployed.

6. Primary school teacher recruitment and deployment will acknowledge the scale of teacher attrition due to a variety of factors including the HIV/Aids pandemic.

7. The MoES&C, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, will establish guidelines for the working relationship between parents' association, teachers' union and school management committees.

 4.1.7 Planning

(a) Policies

1. EMIS shall be afforded a priority status in the quest for an effective toot in the rational planning of the primary education system. A functioning and relevant EMIS will be in place by 2002.

2. A School Mapping Exercise shall be mounted every five years so as to enhance the capacity of Ministry staff to efficiently assess, plan and effect education development in line with the socioeconomic and demographic factors, at national, divisional, district and zonal levels.

(b) Strategies

1. EMIS will be enhanced through an improved and streamlined school census exercise and expanded school mapping effort.

2. The capacity of schools, zones, districts and divisions to gather, interpret and use data will be enhanced.

3. Reliable, relevant and timely information will be freely available to all personnel, at all levels of the system. Training in data analysis and utilisation will follow.

 4.1.8 Finance

 (a) Policies

1. The government shall continue to increase and maximise the share of the educational budget allocated to basic education. The share of allocation to basic education shall rise from 62% in 1997 to at least 65% in 2002.

2. The Government shall encourage and strengthen partnerships in educational development.

3. The MoES&C shall introduce measures to increase the internal efficiency of the system so as to reduce the overall cost of primary education. The input/output ratio shall improve from 2.'38: 1 in 1997 to 1. 5:1 in 2002.

4. The MoES&C shall pursue policies, which increase the allocation of the education budget to primary school teaching/learning materials. The share of allocation to teaching/learning materials shall increase from 3% in 1997 to 13% in 2002.

5. The Government shall introduce cost-saving measures regarding the maintenance of existing teaching and learning materials. Relevant measures shall be in place by 2002.

6. The MoES&C shall continue to encourage communities and parents to assist in school construction and maintenance in kind through the provision of their labour. However, parents/communities wishing to make cash contributions will be allowed to do so and the MoES&C shall establish mechanisms, which schools and school committees should follow to allow greater transparency and accountability.

7. The MoES&C shall promote the expansion of private primary schools.

8. The double shift system, focusing on more effective use of physical facilities shall be increased, particularly in urban schools by.

(b) Strategies

1. The MoES&C will strengthen links partnerships between individuals, local communities, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the private sector, central government and the donor community.

2. Internal efficiency will be improved by repetition and drop out rates being systematically reduced. Efforts will be made to ensure that the strategies utilised to bring about these reductions will not compromise the access that pupils have to education, nor the quality of that education.

3. The MoES&C will devise a mechanism for guiding the determination of schools, which may have the potential to implement double shifting by the end of 2000.

2. Primary Teacher Education and Development

Primary teachers play critical roles in the development of primary age children and also in development of the wider community. The overarching aim of a primary teacher development program in Malawi is to train and continually develop teachers so that they are able to function effectively in the delivery of a quality education to all pupils.

(a) Policies

1. The Government shall promote the participation of the private sector in the training of primary school teachers.

2. The MoES&C shall continue the training of teachers using both distance and face-to-face approaches. In this connection, more TTCs shall be established.

3, All new recruits to the education profession will complete a two-year program of teacher education and professional development. By 2002 an integrated national teacher education program shall be in place.

4. Potential teachers shall be recruited, selected, and deployed in a systematic manner.

(b) Strategies

1. The Government will enact relevant legislation to govern and strengthen the participation of the private sector in primary teacher training.

2. The Government will aim at establishing at least one primary teacher training college in each educational division by 2002.

3. The MoES&C will merge all the existing activities on primary teacher education under one national teacher education department by 2002.

(a) Policies

1. The MoES&C shall put in place appropriate measures aimed at addressing the gender imbalance in teacher supply, provision and deployment.

2. The Government shall make appropriate provision for the training of special education needs' teachers and trainers of special needs teachers.

(b) Strategies

1. The MoES&C will introduce relevant incentives to ensure that more women are recruited as primary school teachers.

2. The Departments for the visually and hearing impaired will continue to train specialist teachers at Montfort College and other relevant institutions.

3. The Department of Teacher Education & Development will enhance the training of specialists in the teaching of children with learning difficulties.

4. Extra training will be given to a number of primary school teachers on how to address the special needs of visually impaired pupils within a conventional classroom setting.

(a) Policies

1. The MoES&C shall put in place a quality teacher education and development program for all teachers in the system. The percentage of unqualified teachers shall reduce from the estimated 50% in 1997 to 3 0% in 2002 and to IO% by 2012.

2. The MoES&C shall define national standards for teacher training which all colleges, including private colleges shall be required to adhere to.

3. The MoES&C shall pursue the target of raising the minimum qualification for a primary teacher trainer to possession of at least a first degree and at least three years teaching experience in primary schools. The percentage of degree holders in colleges shall increase from 25% in 1998 to 40% in 2002 and to 60% by 2012.

4. Beginning 2000, the minimum entry qualification for primary school teacher trainee shall be raised to MSCE and the current untrained teachers who are JCE holders shall be afforded an opportunity to upgrade their academic qualifications and to take advantage of the available training opportunities.

5. From 2000, potential primary teacher trainees will be required to have credit passes in Mathematics, English, one natural science and one social science.

6. The MoES&C shall ensure that all TTCs conform to minimum physical infrastructure standards.

7. The MoES&C shall develop and enhance TTC lecturer quality, in terms of qualifications, and their ability to deliver effective training.

8. The MoES&C shall ensure that all trainees have access to an adequate supply of relevant instructional materials.

9. The MoES&C shall provide a quality, integrated INSET program for primary school staff. All staff to have at least 3 days of INSET per year.

10. A zonal network of 315 Teacher Development Centres (TDCs) shall be in place by 2002.

(b) Strategies

1. Zonal meetings for school staff will be scheduled and programmed in a systematic and cost effective manner.

2. As a consequence of the high volume of unqualified teachers needing to be trained, a MllTEP- style of teacher education will continue as long as the need for it is justified.

3. PEAs will be required to supervise MIITEP students at least once per term.

4. All newly recruited PEAs and senior school staff will be oriented to the MllTEP program by 2000; thereafter orientation will target a number equivalent to the attrition and replacement rate.

5. The monitoring of zonal seminars for teacher trainees will be conducted by DTED and district teams. The frequency of visits by the monitoring teams will be at least 3 times per year per district.

6. Primary school teachers will continue to teach the full range of subjects, and will be trained accordingly.

7. The MoES&C will promote a system of regular rehabilitation and maintenance of TTCs.

8. TTC lecturers will be recruited in sufficient numbers to replace those lost through attrition and to meet efficiency targets.

9. The MoES&C will put in place a program of continuing professional development of TTC lecturers.

10. Teaching materials and equipment will be available to support both TTC-residential and field activities.

11. The School Support System will be further developed and enhanced.

12. PEAs and senior school staff (SSS) will be trained within a fully integrated teacher development program (TDP).

13. School staff will receive at least three days of INSET per year. INSET activities will be developed at the zonal level.

14. The training of PEAs will include the development of supervisory and inspection skills and techniques.

15. National coverage of 315 TDCs to be achieved. Each TDC to be staffed and adequately resourced.

 4.2.5 Relevance

(a) Policies

1. The MoES&C shall ensure that current and emerging teacher development programs are relevant to the actual teaching situation in which teachers will find themselves.

2. Innovation, imaginative approaches and the utilization of locally available resources shall be key elements of future teacher training programs.

3. The curriculum of the teacher-training program shall be revised to meet the needs of trainees, and which shall be relevant to the situation in which trainees will be teaching.

4. The curriculum and syllabuses meant for primary teacher trainees shall be revised to reinforce the messages related to the social impact and coping strategies of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

(b) Strategies

1. The mode of monitoring teaching practice will be revised so that it becomes more effective, both from cost and training perspectives.

2. The MoES&C will actively encourage the promotion of teacher training institutions as HlV/AIDS- aware environments.

(a) Policies

1. The MoES&C shall decentralize the administrative services related to teacher development program by 2002.

2. The MoES&C shall put in place, by 2002, appropriate mechanisms to ensure that all TTCs are managed efficiently and cost-effectively.

(b) Strategies

1. The MoES&C will, in the year 2000, revive the Teacher Education and Development section (TED), to be headed by a Director.

2. The MoES&C will mount a program for the orientation and training of divisional and district personnel in their respective roles in the management and support of an INSET programme.

3. From 2000, 30 days of initial training to be provided together with support in establishing INSET-monitoring mechanisms. From 2002 onwards, support to be given to maintaining the monitoring system.

4. Appropriate support will be given to Primary Education Advisers (PEAs) and Senior School Staff (SSS) to enable them to administer the field support component of Teacher Education and Development Programmes.

5. The MoES&C will continuously strengthen Inspection, Supervision, INSET and Advisory Services.

(a) Policy

1. The MoES&C will strengthen the planning capacity of the Teacher Education and Development Section.

(b) Strategies

1. A national strategic plan for teacher education and development will be developed in 2000.

2. The teacher training institutions will develop strategic plans for development, which will investigate strategies designed to increase the efficiency of the delivery of the teacher development program and increase the training output. These plans should be in place by 2001.

(a) Policies

1. The MoES&C shall make Teacher Education and Development a priority area of investment. The share of primary teacher education shall increase from 3% in 1997 to 4% in 2002.

2. The MoES&C shall in partnership with other teacher education stakeholder groups, ensure that teacher development programs are adequately financed.

3. The MoES&C shall put in place appropriate measures to promote efficiency gains within the teacher education and development system by 2001.

4. The MoES&C shall introduce cost-sharing measures in teacher education and development programmes 2002.

5. The MoES&C shall seek to make all primary teacher-training institutions cost-centres and will require them to publish their annual accounts.

(b) Strategies

1. Primary teacher trainees will be required to contribute 20% of the total boarding costs by 2002. Thereafter, this contribution will be progressively increased.

2. By 2001, trainees will be required to cover the full cost of transportation to, and from, the TTC.

2. The MoES&C will improve trainee: per class ratio at TTCs to 35:1 by 2002.

The government is committed to expanding secondary school opportunity to accommodate the

increasing numbers of primary school graduates following the implementation of the free primary education policy. In this connection, the necessary policy environment will be provided to

encourage participation of non-state actors in the provision of secondary education. The purpose of secondary education is to provide the academic basis for gainful employment in the informal, private and public sectors. Secondary education will also prepare students for further education in keeping with their abilities and aptitudes.

(a) Policies

1. The Government shall aim at increasing the percentage of primary school graduates who have access to secondary level education from the current 18% (approximately 200,00) in 1998 to 30% (400,00) by 2012.

2. The MoES&C shall promote a double shift system for those secondary schools that are adequately equipped for such an innovation as a way of expanding access.

3. Secondary schools will be encouraged to run Night Schools where feasible, under clear guidance from MoES&C.

4. The Government shall promote the expansion of the private secondary school sector. The aim is to increase the percentage of private secondary school students from the current 15% to 25% by 2012.

5. The government shall move towards an equitable funding of all secondary education providers in its effort to increase access to secondary education.

(b) Strategies

1. Government, as a priority, will aim at establishing at least one secondary school in every one of the 315 education zones in the country by the end of 2002.

2. The government will enact appropriate legislation and ensure the necessary enabling environment to encourage the provision of quality private secondary education in order to increase the number of students in private secondary schools from approximately 15% in 1998 to 25% by 2012.

3. A comprehensive School Mapping/EMIS exercise will be carried out to determine optimum and equitable placement of secondary education facilities. This exercise will commence in 2000.

4. Access to government secondary schools will be based on the principle of local catchment area recruitment to be implemented for Form I students from 2000.

5. New day secondary schools and classrooms will be constructed on the basis of the school mapping exercise. Specific targets to be budgeted for each year for the period 2001 to 2012.

6. The double-shift system will be expanded to cover 15% of all urban schools; the process to start from 2001.

7. Policy dialogue and collaboration between the MoES&C and the private sector will be strengthened through support to PRISAM.

8. CSSs and CDSSs will be fused into Government Day Schools where possible. Divisional Offices will be expected to produce a plan by 2002.

9. The Government will make adequate provision for mildly disabled students within the regular school system in order to increase their intake from the current number of 1,000 to 2,000 by the end of 2012.

10. The MoES&C will devise a mechanism for guiding the determination of secondary schools, which may have the potential to implement double shifting by the end of 2000.

(a) Policies

1. Appropriate affirmative action measures shall be taken to increase the number of girls gaining access to and completing secondary education from 39% in 1998 to 50 % by 2012.

2. The MoES&C shall put in place appropriate financially related measures aimed at assisting students from low socio - economic groups to gain access to and complete secondary studies by 2012.

3. The needs of seriously disabled students shall be addressed through setting up a collaboration framework with other Ministries (e.g. Health, Gender Youth & Community Services and Ministry of Persons with Disabilities) and with civic societies such as MACOHA by 2000.

(b) Strategies

1. A bursary system targeting needy students will be put in place by 2001.

2. The current bursary system will be expanded to include all students from low socio-economic groups, with particular emphasis on students with special education needs by 2002.

3. Designs of secondary school infrastructure will be revised with the aim of making them usable by students with special education needs, by the end 2000.

4. All teacher trainees will receive a minimum of one module on the teaching of students with special education needs by 2002.

(a) Policies

1. All secondary school institutions shall be upgraded to minimum operational /physical standards at the rate of 20% per annum beginning 2000.

2. EMAS shall set up a mechanism for monitoring quality assurance in all private secondary institutions by 2002.

(b) Strategies

1. The MoES&C will put in place a comprehensive legal framework to ensure adherence to minimum standards affecting all areas of public and private secondary education by end 2000.

2. The secondary school cluster system (schools which are geographically grouped) will be institutionalized as a mechanism of maximizing resources available in secondary schools.

3. A determination of Secondary School Minimum Standards and the establishment of relevant mechanisms for ensuring compliance will be in place by 2002. Minimum education and physical standards for secondary schools to be determined by the end 2000.

4. The MoES&C will initiate and introduce into classroom practice innovative concepts such as Resource Based Learning (Open Learning) and Study Circle Learning beginning 2002.

5. The MoES&C will put in place appropriate measures to promote an effective, dernand-driven quality assurance system for all secondary schools by 2002.

6. The Methods Advisory Services will beginning in 2002 focus on school-based supervision to ensure that secondary schools get the most assistance from EMAS and with the aim of utilizing existing strengths within the system.

7. The MoES&C will ensure that every division has a minimum number of SEAS, with the medium term goal of having district-based supervision by 2010.

8. Schools will make financial provision for school inspection and evaluation when a new secondary financing system comes into operation by 2012.

9. The MoES&C will continue to take appropriate measures aimed at strengthening the professional competence of Secondary Head teachers and Heads of Departments to carry out methods and advisory services within schools.

10. The necessary statutory and regulatory system to ensure that all private secondary schools are monitored for quality assurance will be put in place by the end 2002.

 (a) Policies

1. Secondary school curriculum shall be revised in line with the social, economic and developmental needs of Malawi. A reformed curriculum to be in place by 2002.

2. The Government will ensure that all public secondary schools have adequate supply of relevant instructional materials based on school choice and school-based purchase from the MoES&C list of approved textbooks by the start of the 2002 academic year.

3. The MoES&C shall require all secondary schools to strengthen their internal student assessment systems and to issue certificates of attendance to those students who do not complete four years of secondary education.

4. The MoES&C shall reduce the number of examinable MSCE subjects to no more than 9 by 2003.

5. The MoES&C shall actively encourage the promotion of secondary schools as disease free and HIV/AIDS - aware environments.

2. Strategies

1. Consultations with a wide range of stakeholders will be held starting in 2000 to help in determining the structure and content of the secondary school curriculum. A curriculum review and reform cycle to be established.

2. The number of examinable subjects at MSCE will be reduced to no more than 9 by 2003. Also to be reduced are the number of papers sat for each examination subject.

3. The curriculum and syllabuses of secondary schools shall be revised to reinforce the messages related to the social impact and coping strategies of the HIV/Aids pandemic.

(a) Policies

1. The MoES&C shall establish a clear and effective management structure based on increased autonomy for secondary school heads and management committees by 2000.

2. The MoES&C shall promote the decentralization of secondary school management by devolving substantial management functions to individual schools by 2002.

3. The MoES&C shall establish and introduce standard basic school management systems and minimum school management requirements in all secondary schools by 2002.

(b) Strategies

1. The MoES&C will revisit the role and functions of the Directorate of Secondary Education with a view to strengthening its capacity to direct the management of secondary education by the end of 2001.

2. The MoES&C will determine the degree of autonomy for secondary school head teachers and provide necessary statutory provisions by the end of 2000.

3. The MoES&C will adopt a secondary school cluster system from 2000 as a means of facilitating more effective management and communication.

4. Night Schools shall be regulated by the MoES&C through the MCDE and shall managed by secondary schools through a separate management team. This policy to be implemented by the end of 2000.

5. The MoES&C shall lay out relevant guidelines on the role, capacity and feasibility of the MCDE to cater for home study students by the end of 2000.

6. The MOES&C will develop and widely disseminate rules and regulations relating to school discipline by the end of 2001.

7. The MoES&C will determine and widely disseminate information on all forms of sexual harassment in secondary schools by 2001.

8. Relevant stakeholder groups (parents, students, communities, NGOs, etc) will be involved in the management of all secondary schools in order to make secondary schools accountable to the communities they serve, the educational district and division offices. The MoES&C to determine a clear and transparent mandate for Secondary School Management Committees by the end 2000.

9. By the end of 2000, the MoES&C will have put in place appropriate mechanisms for promoting effective schools' management, including effective use of teaching/teaming time. In keeping with the goal of decentralization, all matters related to policy shall be left to the MoES&C headquarters while the implementation of policy shall be left to the schools with support from the Divisional and District Education Offices.

10. The MoES&C will take appropriate measures to strengthen guidance and counselling services in secondary schools (including counselling on HIVAIDS and other communicable diseases), starting in the year 2000.

(a) Policies

1.The MoES&C shall promote a unified structure for government secondary education based on the concept of Community Day Schools from 2001,

2. The MoES&C shall promote a policy of having at least one secondary school whose catchment area is the education division as a regional centre of excellence.

3. The MoES&C shall select students for secondary places on the basis of the local catchment area.

(b) Strategies

1. A school mapping exercise to strengthen MoES&C EMIS will be carried out from 2000.

2. The MoES&C will develop model school development plans and will train head teachers on how to develop individual school plans from 2000.

3. Selection of secondary students will be decentralized to the school level (based on local catchment) with technical and professional support from the Divisional & District educational planners by the end of 2012. Local selection committees to be instituted within the catchment areas by 2012.

(a) Policies

1. The Government shall put in place the legal mechanism for redefining and clarifying MoES&C's role as both a provider and enabler of secondary education by 2002.

2. The Government shall put in place an appropriate incentive system to encourage private investment in secondary education by 2002.

3. The MoES&C shall introduce an equitable and fair fee paying system based on a realistic and efficient costing of secondary education by 2000.

4. Schools will be required to invest at least 0.5% of the value of their school buildings on maintenance starting 2001.

5. The government will develop and refine system of per capita financing of all secondary institutions.

6. Beginning 2002, students will not be allowed to repeat any class year as a full-time student. The aim is to make secondary school provision more cost-efficient.

7. The government will systematically reduce funding of boarding facilities.

(b) Strategies

1. The need for boarding will be considerably reduced by the policy of local catchment area selection.

2. The siting of new secondary schools based on the primary school 'feeder' system, will also reduce the need for boarding.

3. Beginning in 2002 parents who wish to board their children will bear the full costs of boarding.

4. Schools being established from 2000 shall not provide boarding facilities. Clear guidelines on the management of boarding facilities to be put in place in 2000.

5. Beginning 2001, the MoES&C will develop budgets that reflect priority needs of the sub-sector and which empower divisions and schools to operate secondary institutions effectively and efficiently.

6. The MoES&C will create an equitable financing system for secondary institutions based on a system of per capita grants from 2002.

7. The MoES&C will implement in 2000 a realistic and equitable cost sharing policy at the secondary level.

8. Secondary school pupils should be encouraged to invest in their education to approximately 50% of the cost of secondary education.

Government should progressively give schools greater autonomy and accountability in the utilization of school finances as a way of increasing school effectiveness and higher academic achievement.

10. The MoES&C will introduce a full cost-recovery system and realistic fee for secondary textbooks and instructional material starting in the year 2002.

11. Secondary school students will be responsible for the purchase of exercise books, pens and pencils beginning 2001.

12. A non-refundable annual Textbook Fee will be levied on each secondary student from 2000. The MoES&C will provide matching funds for a period of not less than four years to ensure a long-term sustainable textbook situation in schools.

13. The JCE examination will be abolished as a cost-saving measure by the end of 200 1.

14. By 2002, the MoES&C will put in place measures aimed at promoting efficiency gains within the system. A target of 50:1 student: class ratio will be set for all secondary institutions. Individual schools will have greater financial authority, under clear ministerial guidelines.

15. The MoES&C will spell out clear guidelines on the financial management of secondary schools when the new fee system is in place by 2002.

16. The MoES&C will require all secondary schools to submit their annual audited accounts to the School Committees and to their respective divisional offices beginning 2005.

17. The MoES&C will require those secondary schools, which have no bursar to employ one by 2002.

Secondary teachers play a critical role in the development of Malawi's youth as well and in the development of the country in general. The government will partner with other education providers to ensure an adequate supply of an academically and professionally qualified secondary school teaching force. Secondary school teachers should be able to provide quality and relevant education in response to the demands of a flexible secondary school curriculum.

(a) Policies

1. The MoES&C shall promote diversified approaches on the training of secondary school teachers in order to increase the number of teachers from the current stock of 2,500 to at least 10,000 by 2012.

2. The Government shall encourage the participation of the private sector in the training of secondary school teachers.

(b) Strategies

1. The MoES&C will develop a comprehensive secondary teacher education and development plan by the end 2001. In this connection, The MoES&C will institute a Teacher Training Program giving priority to increasing teacher output to alleviate the shortage resulting from the current estimated attrition rate of IO% per annum.

2. By the end of 2000, the MoES&C will have developed a comprehensive strategy for recruiting trainees for secondary teacher training colleges. The policy shall be to recruit secondary teacher trainees from among secondary school graduates.

3. The MoES&C will progressively increase the capacity of Secondary Teacher Education Colleges and Faculties of Education at Chancellor College and Mzuzu University to produce secondary teachers to have an accumulated output of 1,000 graduates per annum for the next 12 years,

4. The MoES&C will aim at increasing access to teacher training opportunity through the use of multiple training strategies including pre-service and in-service training, sandwich courses and distance learning.

5, Among other strategies, The MoES&C will address the problem of secondary school teacher shortage by encouraging the recruitment of general degree holders to the teaching profession. An in-service training program for these recruits will be put in place by mid 2000.

6. The MoES&C will intensify the recruitment and strategically place foreign volunteer teachers.

7. The MoES&C will restructure the courses at the secondary teacher colleges along a modular system, with a number of modules to be carried out through distance education, open-learning and/or resource-based learning strategies.

(a) Policies

1. The MoES&C shall ensure that there is gender parity in the recruitment of trainees and in the appointment of positions at training institutions.

2. The MoES&C shall make appropriate provision for the training of Special Needs teachers and teacher trainers.

(b) Strategies

1 . The MoES&C will introduce the bursary system to target needy students with special emphasis on females and students with disabilities beginning 2000.

2. The MoES&C will increase the bed space in TTCs with the aim of enhancing the enrollment of female teacher trainees. By 2002, female trainees will comprise 50% of the total TTC enrollments.

 4.4.4 Quality

(a) Policies

1. The MoES&C shall establish a national agency whose main functions shall include the certification of secondary school teachers and the establishment of national standards for teacher knowledge, skills and attitudes.

2. The MoES&C shall put in place relevant mechanisms for ensuring that all secondary teacher trainees are sufficiently grounded in the area of pedagogics, with a particular focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning in classrooms and that they possess relevant teaching experience.

(b) Strategies

1 . The MoES&C will mount a training programme for CDSS teachers to upgrade them to at least diploma level so that all teachers in the secondary sub-sector have the minimum professional qualifications by 2007.

2. Secondary teacher training programmes for secondary school head teachers will emphasize the imparting of appropriate management and advisory skills.

3. Secondary teacher training programmes will aim at assisting teachers to cope with the demands of revised and/or reformed secondary school curricula.

4. The MOES&C will develop a taxonomy of Secondary Teacher Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes as the basis for setting standards for the award of the Diploma and other secondary teacher certificates by the end of 2001.

5. A Masters Degree in a relevant field will be the minimum professional requirement for all aspiring lecturers of secondary teacher training institutions by 2006.

6. The MoES&C will mount an in-service course for those secondary school teachers interested in becoming heads of schools by 2002. Such a course will focus on the imparting of management and other administrative skills. The course will be run on annual basis.

(a) Policies

1. Beginning 2002, The MoES&C shall initiate reforms of secondary teacher education curricula to ensure they are more responsive to the needs and realities of the secondary school sector.

2. The structure of the secondary teacher training curricula shall be changed so that graduates can teach a greater range of subjects and thus increase the utility of teachers at school level. By 2003, graduates of secondary teacher training colleges should be able to teach at least 2 major subjects.

3. Future teacher training and development programmes shall take into account the HIV/Aids pandemic both in relation to planning and curricula.

4. The curriculum and syllabuses meant for secondary teacher trainees shall be revised to reinforce the messages related to the social impact and coping strategies with regard to all communicable diseases and especially HIV/AIDS.

(b) Strategies

1 . The MoES&C will ensure that the structure of the secondary teacher-training curriculum is revised to enable trained teachers to teach at least 2 major subjects and a minor by 2003.

2. The MoES&C will promote the revision of the curriculum of secondary teacher training institutions from 2000 with the aim of strengthening pedagocics and to reflect the realities of the secondary classroom in Malawi.

3. By the end of 2000, the MoES&C will review the capacity of College of Education staff with a view to enhancing their capacity to strengthen pedagogics.

4. The MOES&C will implement refresher courses for College lecturers to improve their knowledge and skills of modem pedagogics from 2000.

5. The MoES&C will revise the structure of the courses offered in secondary teacher training colleges along a modular system with a number of modules to be carried out through distance education, open learning and/or resource based learning trategies.

6. The MoES&C will actively encourage the promotion of secondary teacher training institutions as environments where trainees are made aware of the prevalence and dangers associated with all communicable diseases including HIV/AIDS.

(a) Policies

1. The MoES&C shall put in place appropriate mechanisms to ensure that colleges of education are managed efficiently, effectively and transparently by 2001.

2. The MoES&C shall promote Domasi College of Education as an academic institution, which will be governed in accordance with the regulations, which apply to other public tertiary education institutions.

(b) Strategies

1. A steering committee on secondary teacher education to function under the Teacher Education Department will be set up by the end of 2000. This Committee will co-ordinate policy, planning and programming at the various Colleges of Education and shall meet at least three times per year.

2. The MoES&C will enact relevant legislation aimed at placing the management of Domasi College of Education in line with that of other tertiary institutions.

3. Colleges of Education will be managed according to clearly articulated and transparent criteria. Beginning 2000, secondary teacher training colleges will be expected to mount/strengthen the representation of students in college management boards/committees.

(a) Policies

1. The planning capacity of the MoES&C shall be strengthened to enable it develop the policies, strategies and programmes required to meet the needs of the secondary teacher education sub-sector.

(b) Strategies

2. A teacher education department, which will coordinate all matters, related to secondary and primary teacher education will be established by 2000.

3. The MoES&C will put in place appropriate measures to ensure that colleges of education are staffed professionally and efficiently by the end of 2000. The main focus will be on strengthening the pedagogical departments of the colleges.

4. By 2002, the average student/lecturer ratio of 25:1 will have been fully implemented by the MoES&C through the payroll system.

5. Beginning 2000, available college positions will be filled by public advertisement subject to ministerial norms and regulations.

6. Beginning 2000, college management will recruit lecturers subject to the rules and regulations set by the TSC.

 4.4.8 Finance

(a) Policies

1. The MoES&C shalt ensure the necessary budgetary provision for in-service and other required training of secondary teachers is in place by 2001.

2. Trainees of Teacher training colleges shall be required to contribute in a realistic manner to the cost of their training beginning 2001. Appropriate levels of cost-sharing to be clearly articulated by the end of 2000.

3. A student loan system shall be introduced to assist students pay the college fees by 2001.

This fee will not be repayable if the graduate teaches in a government school. The amount owed shall be fully waived after 5 years of service.

(b) Strategies

1. A voucher system will be introduced for textbooks and instructional materials from 2000.

2. Colleges of Education will be funded on a per capita system, based on negotiations between the Colleges, MoES&C and MoF.

The Government acknowledges the significance of a solid higher education system in enhancing the development of Malawi by preparing individual Malawians for positions of responsibility in business, the professions and in Government. National higher education institutions will continue to play a key role in the production of new scientific and technical knowledge and through their research and teaching programmes and in promoting the transfer, adaptation and dissemination of knowledge, which has been generated in different parts of the World. Future provision and expansion of tertiary education will rely on both government and non-state initiatives.

(a) Policy

1. The Government shall aim at increasing the participation of Malawians in tertiary education from 3,300 in 1997 to 12,000 by 2012. The main target group shall be youth aged between 18 and 23.

 (b) Strategies

1. . Tertiary institutions will increase their intake of full time students by optimising use of the available physical and human resources. This will call for intensified use of facilities during nights, weekends and holidays as well as joint time tabling across faculties.

2. Mzuzu University and the University of Malawi colleges will be encouraged to mount distance education programmes such that by 2012 distance education should cater for at least 15% of the total tertiary student's population.

3. The Government will encourage private initiatives in tertiary education provision. The intention is to have private tertiary students comprise 15% of total enrolment by 2012. In this connection relevant legislation to regulate non-state initiates will be enacted by 2002.

(a) Policies

1. Tertiary institutions shall take appropriate action aimed at increasing the proportion of female students in tertiary institutions from the current 28% of total enrolment to 50% by 2012.

2. Tertiary institutions shall take appropriate measures with the aim of increasing the proportion of female students in non-traditional areas from 28% to 40% of female enrolment by 2012.

3. Tertiary institutions shall aim at i