Deputy Ministers visit Nthulu Primary School in Dedza to assess Joint Program on Girls Education

Malawi-Deputy Minister of Education, Nancy Chaola Mdooko, and Deputy Minister of International Development for the Kingdom of Norway, Bjørg Sandkjær, paid a visit to Nthulu Primary School in Dedza on Monday to assess the Joint Program on Girls Education, writes Mphatso Nkuonera.

The program, which is financed by the Norwegian government, aims to address the education needs of girls, boys, and vulnerable learners in Malawi.

The Ministry of Education is working with multiple partners, including United Nations agencies such as UNFPA, UNICEF, and WFP, to address the holistic education needs of learners. Under the program, 2,400 teachers underwent various continuous professional development initiatives to improve their teaching capacity.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Mdooko, expressed her satisfaction with the progress of the program, citing improvement in class attendance, reduction in school dropout, and improved examination pass rates.

She also praised the beneficiary schools for providing nutritious meals to learners, which has provided a market for farming communities and improved the financial status of the communities.

The Deputy Minister of International Development for the Kingdom of Norway, Sandkjær, reaffirmed Norway's commitment to supporting the program, which she said has positively impacted Malawi's education standards by keeping learners in school.

She was impressed with the program's achievements, saying that it is in line with Norway's vision of having no one left behind.

The United Nations Resident Representative to Malawi, Rebecca Adah Donto, also expressed the UN's commitment to continuing to support the program through its agencies.

She praised the program's use of digital life skills lessons to motivate learners to stay in school and become responsible citizens.

The Joint Program on Girls’ Education is a crucial initiative in Malawi, where access to quality education remains a significant challenge.

The program's successes demonstrate the importance of collaboration between the government, international partners, and the local community in addressing educational needs.