By Tione Andsen
Lilongwe, June 19, Mana: Governments have been challenged to find solutions for building back better and stronger and resilient education systems from post pandemic.
Minister of Education, Agnes NyaLonje disclosed this Sunday in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) in Lilongwe after attending Education World Forum 222 (EWF22) at Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London from May 22 to 26, 2022.
She said the education systems have been affected by the pandemic and the effects of natural disaster like the cyclones that caused damages to school infrastructures.
Nyalonje said for the education systems to be consolidated there was need to increase financing to complement government’s efforts to improve education standards for equitable access and resilience.
She added that, “COVID-19 pandemic and multiple climate related disasters undermine major ongoing interventions by innocent vulnerable country governments, despite support from development partners,” she said.
The Minister pointed out that developed countries were called upon to do more to support countries like Malawi, which knows what it should do, as outlined in its new development blueprint, Malawi 2063.
She said this plan outlines how Malawi might adapt to climate change and build a more resilient education system.
“In its first ten-year implementation plan dubbed MIP 1 (2021-2030), Malawi intends to offer at least 12 years of education to every child by 2030, and ensure that once enrolled, every learner completes their primary and secondary education,” Nyalonje explained.
She said this feat requires huge investment in infrastructure and digitalization.
The Minister said Malawi would be part of the global grand mission to build a generation of 1 million women and girl coders by 2030.
She hoped that through this intervention, many young girls would be enabled to pursue further training in computing and find meaningful employment, including exploring start-ups.
During the meeting, British Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on the Girl Child’s Education, Helen Grant emphasized on the priority areas for the Ministry, which includes expanding school infrastructure and teacher housing, while investing in integration of technology to expand access and enhance quality of education, for resilience.
She acknowledged that having met several times, it was now time to do something major to change the fate of the girl child in Malawi through education.
The global annual even had attracted Education Ministers from 116 countries.
