Location
The Situation in Malawi
The introduction of Free Primary Education in Malawi has led to a large increase in the number of pupils attending primary school. The enrollment has sharply increased from 1.9 million to 3.2 million per year. But this increase in access has strained the infrastructure and caused a decline in the quality of education. As a result, children are being denied the chance to learn under normal conditions due to scarcity of resources such as desks, books, and teaching materials. Many children have to learn outside because there are not enough classrooms to house them, leaving them exposed to hardships beyond their age.
The teacher-pupil ratio in villages or rural areas is 1:75 while in urban areas the ratio is 1:40. Since there is a shortage of teachers, many have to teach all 8 subjects that the government requires. Most classrooms are overcrowded. This has also led to a drop-out rate of 22% and a repetition rate of 17%. The demand for teachers in Malawi is 11,500 per year, but the University of Malawi and other private colleges produce only 350 teachers per year. Malawi, which is heavily hit by the HIV/Aids epidemic, has seen a 6% annual teacher’s attrition rate. 14.2% of the people
between ages 14 and 49 are living with the HIV/Aids virus.
95% of the population in Malawi lives in rural areas where the average income per household is $160 per year, equaling 72¢ per day. Children who struggle in school have limited options for personal attention or extra help because their teachers are overworked and their families cannot afford tutors. Many children drop out of school because there is no one to help them.
Project TEACH serves children and youth in the Mulanje Region, in Southern Malawi. This is an area currently lacking organizations that meet the emotional, mental, and spiritual needs of Children and Youth.