The Catholic University of Malawi on Friday September 26, 2025 saw the remarkable and record passing out of over 1,500 graduands who have successfully completed their programmes in various fields of studies at the institution. Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Chancellor of the Catholic University of Malawi Bishop Martin Mtumbuka said the university takes pride in offering skills to students so as to make them employable and also to help them look after themselves through entrepreneurship should they become unsuccessful on the job market due to limited opportunities. Bishop Mtumbuka encouraged universities in the country to occasionally, conduct research which is crucial in determining the kind of skills required by prospective employers. The Chancellor warned both the staff and students that the institution’s policy remains unchanged on individuals who lack discipline, saying they will be fired or weeded out. On his part, Old Mutual Malawi Group Chief Executive Officer Taxona Biza who was the guest of honour, said the world keeps evolving therefore, this calls for a reason not to keep doing things as usual. He advised the graduands not to wait to be employed but to start something so that in future, they employ others. The Catholic University of Malawi was established in 2004 but opened its doors in 2006 and its first congregation was in 2010 with less than 100 students.

Police in Mulanje have arrested 8 male students of Mulanje Secondary school who are seating for this year’s Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations for bullying form one students and Vandalising school property It was all started on Sunday 13 July, 2025 when form one students reported their ill treatment to the head teacher. According to one victim who opted for anonymity, some form 4 students on Sunday entered form one students’ hostels and took some of them into the nearby bush and started beating them and demanding cash. One traumatized victim who spoke to Khulubvi Post narrated harrowing experiences he suffered as he was carrying his bags on his head heading home The situation went out of control some form 4 students started vandalising property, stealing mattresses and blankets, physically assaulting the form ones in solidarity with their colleagues who were identified as ring leaders and were taken by police for questioning Violence continued to Monday afternoon when police fired teargas leading to form one students leaving school campus looking for safety The suspects will potentially face theft and vandalism charges after exams, according to Mulanje police station Public Relations Officer sergeant Innocent Moses

Japanese Ambassador to Malawi, Yoichi Oya, underscored the vital role of higher education in addressing Malawi’s pressing socio-economic issues during his visit to Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) on Wednesday. The visit formed part of the Ambassador’s wider tour of Malawian universities aimed at gaining insight into their operations and exploring potential partnerships with Japanese institutions. “Since I was posted in this country, I have been visiting some leading universities to find out some spaces of engagement with the Japanese universities. I will take all the information back to my office to see how we can continue working together,” Oya stated. Dr. John Phuka, KUHeS Executive Dean, School of Global and Public Health, said KUHeS through his school can leverage Japanese knowledge and experience in managing the impacts of natural disasters and public health emergencies. “As you are aware that the country is facing significant challenges in terms of cyclones and other public health emergencies of different kinds including epidemics,” he said. Dr. Phuka also appealed to the Ambassador for resource support to address the increasing demand for healthcare human resources in Malawi. Prior to the discussions, Ambassador Oya was given a tour of the KUHeS campus, where he observed the infrastructure development and gained insight into the university’s service provision.

Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima has attributed the 8.7 percent rise in female participation in this year’s Junior Certificate Education (JCE), to national commitment to ensuring equity and access to education for all. Wirima made the remarks when she inspected the start of the 2025 JCE at Linthipe Secondary School and Nthulu Community Day Secondary School in Dedza district. The minister, said the schools that government introduced under Secondary Education Expansion for Development (SEED) project to increase access to secondary education, for young Malawians especially girls, are materialising. “We introduced 72 secondary schools under SEED project and most of them this is their maiden year to administer the exams. This is encouraging because we have noted an increase in girl’s participation in secondary education,” said the Minister. Commenting on the development, Inkosi Kamenyagwaza 5 of Dedza commended the ministry of education for the efforts in promoting education mainly for girls. A total of 166,123 candidates will sit for the JCE examinations nationwide this year, against a total of 154,504 last year.

Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has inaugurated the Bio-Energy from Electrical Energy in Schools (B-EES) Project in a significant stride towards integrating renewable energy with education. The initiative introduces solar-powered technologies, including a mini oil expeller, into the primary school setting, aiming to provide students with hands-on experience in renewable energy applications. Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, officiated the launch at Kaungwe Primary School in Dowa on Friday. She emphasised the project’s potential to inspire students towards careers in science and engineering. “I, therefore, encourage learners to view the initiative not merely as a project but as an opportunity to gain practical skills that align with the nation’s vision for sustainable development,” she said. Belgian Ambassador to Malawi, Peter Huyghebaert, highlighted collaborative efforts between Malawi and Belgium, noting that the project aims to enhance energy accessibility and educational opportunities in rural areas . The B-EES Project is implemented by G-HiTech in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic Education, funded through a €700,000 grant from Belgium’s FINEXPO and an additional €159,321 from the Walloon region (AWEX). The initiative aligns with Malawi’s broader educational reforms, such as the Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) programme.

Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, has warned that private schools that fail to meet standard educational requirements will be closed, as the government is committed to improving standards for quality education in Malawi. The minister said this on Wednesday when she opened the Independent Schools Association of Malawi (ISAMA) National Conference at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre under the theme; Advancing Quality in Schools: Embracing Inclusion, Digitalisation, and Corporate Governance for a Sustainable Future. Wirima emphasized government’s commitment to improve education quality in both public and private institutions, saying the ministry will not tolerate schools that fail to meet government-set standards. “Running a school is not just a business but a responsibility. We will not allow any school to operate without qualified teachers, learning materials, or proper infrastructure. “These are basic requirements. A school that fails to meet these requirements puts learners at risk,” said Wirima. She added that, while the government values the role of private education institutions in expanding access to learning, the ministry will continue deploying education inspectors to assess and shut down schools that fall below the required standard. “The ministry has intensified inspections across the country. Schools operating without licenses or with unqualified teaching staff will be closed,” Wirima said. ISAMA President Bishop Wycliffe Chimwendo acknowledged the minister’s concerns and said the association will operate in line with the ministry’s mission to deliver quality education to all learners in Malawi. “The conference theme resonates well with the ministry’s mission to provide education that responds to today’s challenges and equips learners with practical skills. I would like to assure you that ISAMA is committed to supporting both our schools and the ministry in the quest for educational excellence,” he added. Chimwendo therefore called for closer collaboration with the government to review policies that may hinder the operations of private schools, particularly those serving rural populations or low-income earners. The conference had presentations from education experts from South Africa and Zambia, who shared strategies for improving governance and internal management in schools. Director of Rise and Shine Private School, Vincent Kambuka, said a session on corporate governance inspired him to strengthen his school’s management structures. “A school without a board of directors or a parent-teacher association (PTA) is like a ship without direction. That stayed with me. I now plan to set up proper systems to support effective learning,” he said. The two-day event also tackled topics such as digital learning, inclusive education, and integrating learners with disabilities into mainstream classrooms. The conference will enter its second day on Thursday with a general meeting and elections to choose a new president of ISAMA. #mananews

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today officially handed over several education projects and intervention programmes that have been implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education following the decision of USA Government to withdraw USAID funding from education portfolios globally. The handover ceremony took place at the Ministry’s Headquarters at Capital Hill in Lilongwe, marking the conclusion of USAID’s active financial support for now. Over the years, the two ministries have collaboratively implemented a range of development projects with funding and technical support from USAID. The programmes targeted foundational learning, inclusive education, and infrastructure development across Malawi’s education sector. Speaking at the event, Pamela Fessenden, USAID Mission Director, expressed appreciation for the strong working relationship between USAID and the two ministries. “Under the USAID-supported National Reading Programme (NRP), we facilitated the development and printing of Standard 1–4 curriculum and instructional materials in both English and Chichewa. We also recently trained 24,000 Standard 1–2 teachers and initiated a revision of the Inclusive Education Strategy,” she said. Ms. Fessenden further highlighted additional achievements, including: Completion of 72 Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSS),Progress on 17 CDSS construction sites, currently at an average of 65 percent completion, development of induction standards for newly hired primary school teachers and teaching practice. Secretary for Higher Education, Dr. Levis Eneya, acknowledged USAID contributions, noting their significant impact on the advancement of education in Malawi. Echoing these sentiments, Secretary for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Rachel Chimbwete Phiri, described the partnership as both beneficial and transformative. The handover meeting served to acknowledge the contributions of USAID and to commend both ministries for their joint efforts in implementing impactful education reforms.

Member of Parliament for Chiradzulu-Thumbwe Constituency, Joseph Nomale, has disbursed K20 million in loans through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to 45 Village Savings and Loans (VSL) groups in the area. Speaking recently during a cheque handover ceremony held at Thumbwe Secondary School in Traditional Authority (TA) Kadewere, Nomale expressed optimism that the funds will improve the lives of the beneficiaries. “There are a lot of challenges that these people face due to the effects of climate change, which hinder their ability to produce enough food for their families,” he said. “I believe this money will help them boost their small businesses and enable them to buy food for their households.” Chiradzulu District Council Community Development Officer, Lovemore Kachala, echoed Nomale’s sentiments, urging VSL groups to invest wisely to ensure sustainability of the fund. “This is a revolving fund, and we are working hand in hand with our extension workers to make sure every beneficiary passes on the opportunity to others in the community,” Kachala said. One of the beneficiaries, Eggery Chisulu from Likoko Village in T/A Kadewere and a member of the Talandira Group which received K300,000 said the funds will help them rebuild their businesses. “We plan to invest in selling food crops and will reinvest our profits to repay the loan with interest, allowing us to grow our earnings,” she said. The initiative is part of the government’s Youth and Women Economic Empowerment Fund, aimed at uplifting livelihoods and enhancing economic resilience in local communities.