Passage of the Revised Education Act in Malawi

The government of Malawi passed the Revised Education Act, making primary education compulsory for all children. This legislative change aimed to further improve enrollment and retention rates in primary schools. As a result of this act, the percentage of students who begin standard one and complete standard five has seen a significant increase. The act also contributed to the overall improvement in youth literacy rates, which rose from 68% in 2000 to 75% in 2015, according to the World Bank. The success of this initiative is largely due to the provision of improved learning materials, better infrastructure, and feeding programs throughout the school system. However, challenges remain, particularly in secondary education, where attendance rates drop to approximately 25%, with higher rates for males. Dropout rates are notably higher for girls than boys. The education system in Malawi includes eight years of primary education, four years of secondary school, and four years of university. Public universities in Malawi include Mzuzu University (MZUNI), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), and the University of Malawi (UNIMA), along with 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.