Establishment of Free Primary Education in Malawi

In 1994, the government of Malawi established free primary education for all Malawian children. This initiative led to a significant increase in enrollment rates for primary schools, which rose from 58% in 1992 to 75% in 2007. The percentage of students who began standard one and completed standard five also increased from 64% in 1992 to 86% in 2006. According to the World Bank, youth literacy rates improved from 68% in 2000 to 75% in 2015. This progress is attributed to improved learning materials, better infrastructure, and feeding programs implemented throughout the school system. Despite these advancements, secondary school attendance remains low at approximately 25%, with slightly higher rates for males. Dropout rates are higher for girls than boys. The education system in Malawi comprises eight years of primary education, four years of secondary school, and four years of university. There are four public universities in Malawi: Mzuzu University (MZUNI), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), the University of Malawi (UNIMA), and several private universities such as Livingstonia, Malawi Lakeview, and the Catholic University of Malawi. The entry requirement for university is six credits on the Malawi School Certificate of Education, equivalent to O levels.