Paper Number: 2246
Geo Science Education in Malawi: The Case of Geography in Secondary Schools
Mwalwenje C.Y1 and Chasukwa F2
Malawi Government Secondary School Teacher, P.O. Box 410, Lilongwe Malawi, yvonnechasukwa@gmail.com
2 Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Student, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi
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Geo Science concepts in Malawi are covered in Geography subject. The concepts are taught in primary school for 8 years, secondary for 4 years and in tertiary education for another four years. In this abstract, geography will be used synonymously with Geo science.
Despite of introducing the subject at primary level, Geography pass rate at Malawi National Examinations in the last class in secondary school have been failing in past twenty years reaching as low as 19% in 1995 prompting Subject Specialists at Ministry of Education to call stakeholders in order to reflect on the dismal performance. This reflection meeting recommended curriculum review (All Africa 1999).
The Malawi government revised the curriculum and reduced its content in 2000 with the vision to contribute to the Millennium Development Goal of Education for All (Masperi 2008).
Regardless of revised curriculum, students continue to fail in Geography. The British Council (2001) argues that lack of proper and effective instruction materials and even journals as the main contributor to the failing of students. However, Malawi Government (2004) adds that opposition from other related subjects have also contribute to making the subject to become less popular among the learners. This has increased the failure rate for Geography at national examinations.
Therefore, to comprehensively understand Geo Sciences education in Malawi, widespread and combined approach should be analyzed if the education system is to make sense in Malawi.
References:
[1] All Africa (1999) Poor school exams results blamed on education system: Table 4
[2] British Council (2001): Quality and Value in Private School Association in Malawi: volume 8
[3]Malawi Government (2004): Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Education Sector, Policy and Investment Framework: 3
[4] Masperi, et al (2008): Euro talk – Malawi Report – The potential role of portable interactive Learning technology within basic education in Malawi: 43