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Education sector gets K68bn World Bank boost

The World Bank and Malawi have signed a K68 billion concessional loan for projects to improve the education sector in the country.

The funds will be provided under the ‘Equity with Quality and Learning at Secondary (Equals)’ project to be implemented over six years, World Bank country manager Greg Toulmin said on Friday at the loan agreement signing ceremony in Lilongwe.

Mwanamvekha (L) and Toulmin exchange loan agreement documents

The loan was approved by Parliament in July this year and is set to benefit 500 000 learners as well as 3 000 teachers with capacity building and provision of science and mathematics teaching and learning materials in secondary schools in 13 selected districts.

“The objective of the project is to improve the quality of science and mathematics teaching and learning in community day secondary schools [CDSS] and increase access to secondary education in selected remote areas,” said Toulmin.

The World Bank chief said secondary education is central to realising the objectives of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS III).

“So, the project will also support government efforts towards achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 4, which focuses on equitable and quality education,” he said.

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Joseph Mwanamvekha said  the project will improve the secondary education sector, especially in districts that have been posting poor Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) results.

According to the World Bank, secondary education is the main contributor to the poverty reduction gains as economic benefits from secondary education are much higher—at 67 percent—than primary education, at 15 percent.

The benefits are also said to be higher among females—85 percent than 58 percent for their male counterparts.

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