Malawi Catholic Education Policy Launched… The Church Promise To Promote Quality Education

The Catholic Church has launched Malawi Catholic Education Policy, aim at consolidate achievements in education and reposition itself to modern challenges. 

The development of the guideline policy is also an attempt to set out some aspects of Catholic perspectives in education.

The policy document among others, presents fundamental principles and ideas of Catholic education which should guide the management of over 1500 primary schools and close to 150 post primary education institutions including Secondary Schools, Teacher Training Colleges, Vocational and Technical Colleges and Special Needs Education College across the country. 

His Lordship Right Reverend Martin Mtumbuka, Bishop Chairman for Catholic Education Commission says the church hopes that contents in the policy will lead to greater clarity on the church vision of education and provide material for thought, reflection and dialogue among those engaged in its provision at all levels and other interested parties.

“We are trying to respond to the environment we are in, over a hundred years ago the environment in which we were working, was not as sophisticated as it is at the moment. The social economic challenges and moral challenges were not the same. Therefore, we are working in the environment that is far most sophisticated than before.” He said

“So, we considered it more necessary to organize our self in more systematic way and in a more coherent way so that we can better respond to the challenges that are in front of us in more prioritized way so that we tackle the most important issues first and move down in a descending order.”

Rt. Rev. Mtumbuka further said apart from promotion of quality education the church is also through its social services committed to end various social-economic challenges, poverty and ethical and moral challenges the country is facing.

The Catholic church began offering education in Malawi since 1901 when the first primary school was established by Montfort Missionaries at Mzama Parish in Ntcheu district.

The policy has outlined number of issues which the Catholic Education Commission shall strive to promote as it offers education in the country. Among others the church shall strive to promote: Catholic Education Institutions be open to all people regardless of their distinction of religion, ethnicity tribe among others; equity in the enrollment for basic education; quality education; discipline including teacher motivation.