By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, August 22, MANA:  Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Thursday launched National Teacher Training Programme targeting 23,685 Standard 1 and 2 teachers from 5,919 schools across Malawi.

The training will be conducted in all 522 Teacher Development Centers from August 19 to September 6, 2024.

Speaking during the programme launch, at Limbe Teacher Development Center in Blantyre, Director of Quality Assurance Services Prof. Golden Silimba said teachers will be trained on five core reading components for effective lesson delivery to improve language and reading proficiency of learners.

“These include teaching techniques, effective use of time, effective use of the teacher's guide and  learners book and other materials and effective use of code-switching with the mother tongue as a support mechanism for Standard 1and 2 learners struggling with English, “ he added

Silimba said development is a continued effort in response to the National Reading Assessments 2019 and 2024 preliminary results, which indicate that almost all Standard 2 learners in Malawi fail to meet the internationally defined minimum proficiency standards in reading Chichewa and English.

USAID acting Deputy Mission Director Jill Jupiter Jones said it was impressive to learn that the training sessions were taking place in all 522 Teacher Development Centers across the country to equip teachers with appropriate skills and knowledge to effectively teach the learners.

She said that by using the curriculum and supplementary materials provided to the teachers and expressed optimistic that they will help yield better educational outcomes for the learners.

“As USAID, we are proud to be part of this initiative which will help to ensure that 30 percent of learners in Standard 2 achieve early grade reading proficiency by the year 2027. We believe that strong foundational learning for children results in empowered and productive future citizens,” she added.

She therefore expressed USAID's commitment to continue supporting Ministry of Education in the implementation of the National Reading Programme through procurement, distribution of textbooks and other instructional materials as well as training educators and administrators to ensure that teachers provide lessons consistently and effectively.

Speaking on behalf of teachers, Alice Golozera from Kapeni Demonstration School hailed Malawi Government and USAID for proving the National Reading Programme, saying this was an ideal and timely intervention.

Golozera added that teachers were committed to advance skills to effectively deliver better educational outcomes for Standard 1 and 2 learners.

The National Teacher Training is supported by USAID's Next Generation Early Grade Reading Programme (NextGen).