TUM in K1.1b Star School Programme

The Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) is partnering the Education Expertise Development Foundation (EEDF) to implement the three-year Star School Programme to the tune of K1.1 billion.

The programme, launched on Friday in Lilongwe, targets 18 primary schools, six each in Mzimba South, Chikhwawa and Lilongwe Rural East.

In the first year, which is the pilot phase of the project, only seven schools will be targeted, two each in Mzimba and Chikhwawa and three in Lilongwe.

The programme has been funded by an NGO based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, called Edukans, but in Malawi it is being coordinated by EEDF.

EEDF director Robert Mponela said the project seeks to turn the targeted schools into model primary schools in terms of infrastructure, teaching content and school governance in general.

“By the end of the programme, all the 18 schools will have adequate infrastructure to promote access to quality education….effective and participatory school-based management and increase the involvement of school management committees, mother groups and parent-teachers associations,” said Mponela.

TUM general secretary Denis Kalekeni applauded the programme, saying it will transform primary education in the country.

“As TUM, our job is not only limited to seeing better working conditions for teachers, but to see delivery of quality education and we believe this project will achieve that. We request government and other donors to implement similar projects,” said Kalekeni.

Principal education officer in the Ministry of Education Prince Moyo said the Star School Project will complement government’s Primary School Improvement Programme (PSIP).

“Through PSIP, we allocate money to specific schools for the improvement of infrastructure. We applaud the coming of the Star School Programme as it will complement our efforts,” said Moyo.