TTCs to offer diplomas

Malawi Government, through the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College Faculty of Education, has embarked on a mission to upgrade the primary school teachers’ qualification from certificates to diploma level in all teachers training colleges (TTCs).

This was disclosed on Tuesday in Liwonde, Machinga during a two–day stakeholders consultative workshop for master’s degree programme in primary education curriculum.

Speaking at the workshop, principal secretary for basic and secondary education in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Thokozile Banda, said quality education in the country can be achieved if government and other stakeholders invested in teachers.

Banda said for government to implement the diploma programme for primary school teachers, there was need for lecturers of high calibre in TTCs.

“Before we kick off the diploma programme, we need to upgrade the incumbent TTC lecturers to master’s degree level. This will enable them to impart relevant knowledge to the student teachers,” she said.

Chancellor College dean of education Dr. Bob Chulu described the introduction of the diploma programme in TTCs as a milestone in the country’s education.

“We are ready to equip TTC tutors with relevant knowledge so that they will be able to teach the student teachers with relative ease, joy and efficiency,” said Chulu.

The TTC lecturers’ master’s degree programme will be funded by the Scottish government through the Strathclyde University.