Ministry of Education, on Wednesday, 19th April, 2023 launched the Foundational Learning Steering Committee which aims at clearing numerous challenges impacting education at all levels by improving and strengthening the culture of reading among early grade learners of Standard 1 to 4 in Malawi.

Speaking during the launch at Kumbali Lodge in the City of Lilongwe, Minister of Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima described the Foundational Learning as crucial toward achieving better education in Malawi.

“We are all aware that quality Foundational Learning is pivotal to better learning outcomes at all levels of education. M’mera Mpoyamba is a very important Malawian Proverb meaning that when we build a strong education foundation for a child, s/he will excel in learning and schooling. The Ministry of Education has therefore prioritized foundational learning as a fulcrum to accelerate education gains at all levels of education.” Said Wirima.

She further said Government has demonstrated a strong commitment to expanding equitable access to quality education for all children and youth in the country by putting a number of policies in place to make sure there is quality education at all levels including those in rural communities which include Free Primary Education Policy.

In her speech, Wirima admitted the multiple and persistent challenges that are limiting the country’s ability to provide quality education in its schools, however, she quickly described Foundational Learning as one crucial area that will help clear the challenges as it impacts all levels of education in the country.

Additionally, Wirima said with support from Malawi’s development partners, her Ministry already developed and launched the National Reading Strategy, and the National Reading Program that aim to improve reading proficiency among the early grade learners from Standard 1 to 4.

The Minister then outlined her Ministry’s vision to improve foundational literacy and numeracy in the country aiming at reducing learning poverty from the current 87 percent to 21percent by the year 2030 which Wirima said will be achieved through the five pillars that her Ministry has set, including expansion of school feeding program coverage from the current 35 percent to 100 percent and digitization of education for access, quality, efficiency, and resilience.

“We look forward to working with development partners and all Malawians in complementing this vision. The Ministry has set up this national Foundational Learning Steering Committee as a mechanism to build stronger coordination and collectively be accountable for foundational learning outcomes.” Added Wirima.

The Steering Committee has drawn representatives from two Ministries of Education and that of Gender, Disability, Community Development and Social Welfare, as well as from Development Partners.