This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Malawi strikes deal on teacher training
09/11/2006
Scotland's teacher training institutions have formed a partnership to with the University of Malawi's Chancellor College to support trainers through a two-year Bachelor of Education top-up degree in primary education.
The Executive-funded scheme, supported by Strathclyde, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Paisley and Stirling universities, is intended to improve the standard of teacher in Malawi where free primary education was first introduced in 1994.
Minister for Parliamentary Business Margaret Curran said:
"Access to education transforms people's lives and opens doors to a lifetime of opportunities. Here in Scotland, we're lucky to have the teaching infrastructure we need, and we see the difference that can make.
"That's why we're funding this project to help our friends in Malawi to develop their teaching infrastructure where they have just one qualified teacher for every 95 pupils, compared to our one for every 14.1 pupils.
"By helping increase the number of qualified teachers, and improve education standards, we will give growing numbers of youngsters the skills they need for a successful future."
Malawian Education Minister, the Hon Anna Kachikho, said:
"If Malawi is to develop, it needs an educated population, and it is rightly important that our primary schools - the foundation of education in Malawi - are well supported through the provision of properly trained teachers.
"The introduction of free primary education in Malawi in 1994 put enormous pressure on the Government for resources - for infrastructure, materials and teacher training.
"I am pleased that the Scottish Executive has agreed to fund a programme that will lead to highly trained primary school teachers, thereby alleviating the pressure arising from free primary education.
"This is the first time that Malawi will undertake a degree programme in primary education and we are confident that it will ensure a steady supply of professionally trained teachers."
Anne Hughes, Deputy Principal at the University of Strathclyde, is leading the project. She said:
"The new degree signifies hope for the 3.2 million Malawians in primary education. By training teacher advisers and trainers in the latest primary teaching methods, more and more teachers can be supported in offering quality primary education.
"The changes will not happen over night but this is a sustainable project and by working together, we can improve education for thousands of Malawians."
The Executive is providing £46,000 funding for 2007-08, with a further £67,000, £69,000, £72,000 and £58,000 for each of the four subsequent years. The intention is that the project will be sustainable by Malawi, at their own expense, beyond the pilot phase.
The introduction of free primary education in Malawi in 1994 saw the number of pupils increase from 1.9 million to 3.2 million, leading to a huge demand for teachers. Around 22,000 teachers, 18,000 of whom were untrained, were recruited.
Scotland and Malawi signed a co-operation agreement in November 2005 offering practical help to the African nation in areas such as health, education and economic development.
In May 2005, during a visit to Malawi, First Minister Jack McConnell announced that he would meet representatives from Scotland's teacher training institutions to explore how Scotland could help Malawi train more, and better qualified, teachers.
Malawian children begin primary education aged six (although young people up to 16 can enrol) and it lasts eight years. Progression to the next year (or standard) is dependent on passing exams, so it is not unusual for children to stay in primary education until their late teens. Entry to secondary education is dependent on a good pass in primary education and all secondary schools charge fees.
Malawi is one of the world's 10 poorest countries and the average life expectancy is 38. Seventy per cent of women are illiterate and 30 per cent of men.
Contact: Marion MacKay: 0131 244 3070
News Release: "NewsReleaseNo"
Internet: www.scotland.gov.uk