Teachers across the country are protesting a Teachers Council of Malawi (TCM) demand for them to renew their licences.
All teachers that opened up on the matter did so on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
“I paid K48 000 for a licence and registration with TCM last year, but I have not attended any activity to do with improvement of professionalism and ethical standards in education sector organised by the council.
“In fact, I do not know what the council does. To my surprise, the council is now asking us to renew our licences,” said a Mwanza-based secondary school teacher.
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A Salima-based primary school teacher claimed that he paid K25 000 for registration and licensing in 2024, but had not heard from TCM by March 13 2025, when the council announced the renewal of licences.
“I feel TCM is only a money-making entity for government,” said the teacher, who claimed many others in the district share his concern.
A lecturer at Lilongwe Teachers’ Training College claimed the council has collected billions from teachers nationwide, but they are not told what the funds have been used for.
“It is like we are fundraising for something we are not aware of,” he lamented.
The teachers and lecturers are now demanding accountability and transparency from TCM, urging the organisation to clarify how funds are being utilised and what tangible benefits have been realised for the teaching community in Malawi.
“TCM owes me an explanation on the reason I should keep giving it money in form of registration and licensing,” said a Zomba-based early childhood education caregiver.
Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) secretary general Charles Kumchenga echoed the educators’ concerns, which he described as genuine.
Said Kumchenga: “What teachers are claiming is genuine and we [TUM] have been engaging the council on the same observations. What the council said was that it had a small work force to work on the gaps and assured us that those problems will be sorted out.”
TCM registrar Grace Chakwera did not respond to our enquiry despite promising to do so after she confirmed receiving our questionnaire.
But in a statement REF. NO.TCM/17/03/2025 signed by Chakwera, the council admitted that it is facing challenges in issuing registration certificates and licences to the educators.
Weighing in on the matter, education rights activist Benedicto Kondowe agreed with Kumchenga and the teachers, saying their concerns are valid and deeply troubling.
Said Kondowe: “Demanding renewals without fulfilling the first step not only disrespects educators, but also weakens the legitimacy of the council itself.”
He added that the silence and inaction of the council over the past year is a serious dereliction of duty.
“There must be a clear public accounting of how these funds are being used. Teachers have a right to transparency—this is not just a governance issue; it is a matter of social justice,” he said, adding that the conduct of the council so far reflects a worrying gap between mandate and action.
According to TCM, licensing fees are K10 000 for early childhood teachers, K15 000 for special education and primary school, K24 000 for secondary school, K30 000 for teacher training college lecturers and K35 000 for education administrators.
TCM was established by the Malawi Government under the Education Act No 21 of 2013 with the primary mandate of regulating the teaching profession and ensuring high standards of professionalism, accountability and ethical conduct.
The council began registering and licensing education professionals nationwide in 2024 and March 2025. It has since reported registering 85 175 teachers with 76 657 certificates distributed.
