Deputy Minister of Education Nancy Chaola Mdooko has said the government is impressed with Joint Program on Girls Education, citing improvement in class attendance, reduction in school dropout, and improved examination pass rate.
Mdooko made the remarks on Tuesday in Dedza when, together with Deputy Minister of International Development for the Kingdom of Norway, Bjørg Sandkjær, visited Nthulu Primary School, one of the beneficiaries of the Joint Program on Girls Education which is financed by the Norwegian Government.
“We are impressed with what the program has achieved in all schools where it is implemented,” she said.
Under the program, 2, 400 teachers went through various continuous professional development initiatives to improve their teaching capacity.
Through the programme, the Ministry of Education is working with multiple partners including United Nations Agencies such as UNFPA, UNICEF and WFP to holistically address girls, boys and vulnerable learners’ education needs.
Beneficiary schools are giving nutritious meals to learners, to keep them stay in school, a program.
Mdooko also applauded the beneficiary schools for providing market to farming communities, which, in turn, has improved financial status of communities and enable them to support learner’s needs as parents.
In her remarks, Deputy Minister of International Development for the Kingdom of Norway, Bjørg Sandkjær, said Norway is committed to continuing supporting the initiative, which has positively impacted on Malawi’s education standards by keeping learners at school.
“We are impressed with what the program has achieved and it is in line with what Norway wants to have no one left behind,” she said.
While United Nations Resident Representative to Malawi, Rebecca Adah Donto, said UN remains committed to continue supporting the program through its agencies.
“The program is motivating learners to stay in school and become responsible citizens thereafter through digital Life Skills lesson which they are receiving through tablets distributed by the program,” Donto said.
