Secondary Education

Secondary Education

A secondary state education in Malawi is only available to those children from Standard 8 who pass the National Examination with very good grades.

There are now 21 children, former pupils, receiving a private high school education. 15 boys and 6 girls which is a fantastic achievement. The State Secondary School which is available to our children is very far away from the village with no public transport availability.  It is in a very poor state of repair and facilities and resources are entirely inadequate.  In addition children are virtually left unsupervised and living on their own.  Few can afford the rent of a place to stay or indeed the state fees.  Consequently very few, if any children from a rural environment complete the four years of secondary or succeed in obtaining an MSCE – a Malawi Certificate of Education. Even after a pass in the National Examinations, pupils have to be selected by the government to gain a place in state and grant aided schools.  Private Schools can set further entrance examinations and interviews.  The school fees currently for a Private School are around £1000 per annum and includes tuition, meals, accommodation and access to textbooks.  Fees don’t include uniform, gym kit, toiletries, bedding, sports uniform, jotters, pencils etc. nor the cost of travel home at the end of each term.
 

There are so many students after so few places, therefore Private Schools can afford to accept only the brightest and the best. It has always been our intention to promote girls secondary education.  Recalling the words of James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey, the African Missionary and teacher who said:-

“The surest way to keep people down is to educate a man and neglect a woman.  If you educate a man you simply educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a whole nation”.

However, in an endeavour not to discriminate against boys, our board decided to put forward our best boys for selection.  We presented 4 girls for interviews and entrance examinations for ‘Girls on the Move’ Private Secondary Boarding School for Girls and 3 boys for interviews and entrance examinations for ‘St John’s Private Boarding School for Boys.  All 3 boys secured a place and 3 out of the 4 girls secured a place.  A fantastic achievement! If you wish to sponsor or part sponsor a child for private secondary education please contact us to discuss or send an email to the charity.