By Andrew Phiri

Balaka, December 20, Mana: Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has said the launch of "AU-Africa Educate Her Campaign" will improve girl’s education by increasing their enrollment in all levels of education.

Director of Education Planning from the ministry, Victoria Geresomo said this on Thursday during the launch of the campaign at Buke Primary school in Traditional Authority (TA) Phalula in Balaka District.

She said the initiative is responding to post-Covid-19 impacts which lead to high numbers of school dropout among girls and the major pillars incorporated in the campaign will strengthen education policies and building capacity among NGOs, chiefs and religious leaders to uplift girls’ education.

”Recently in 2024, the ministry conducted an annual school census survey which indicated that performance of girls in schools is still a problem because many girls dropped out of school during the Covid-19 pandemic," she said.

She added: "Government is committed to revamp the education sector through various programmes such as AU-Africa Educate Her Campaign in order to align with Malawi 2063 vision."

She therefore hailed all partners in the education sector such as Oxfam, CAMFED, FAWEMA, CAVWOC among others for complementing government’s effort to bail out girls from educational challenges.

Representing Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the education sector, Oxfam Malawi Country Director, Lingalileni Mihowa said the campaign will work in all facets by building strong partnerships among all parties and provide conducive education environment to girls.

"You have also witnessed that the initiative has provided girls with school writing materials, sanitary materials and bicycles in order to reduce mobility challenges," she said.

Meanwhile, Balaka District Council Director of Planning and Development, Chris Nawata has hailed the government and all CSOs for their commitment to improve girl’s education in Balaka and the whole country.

AU-Africa Educate Her Campaign is a yearly education campaign that will run until 2025 by 55 African Union member states including Uganda, Mozambique and Malawi with an ultimate goal of retaining girl’s enrollment in primary, secondary and tertiary levels, courtesy of impacts of Covid-19 pandemic.