• Malawi abolished public secondary school fees nationwide from January 1, 2026.
• The government removed exam and school development fees, which the state now fully covers.
• Only 49.7% of pupils transition to secondary school, while net enrollment stands at 16.8%.

In a press release relayed on Friday, January 2, on its Facebook page, the Ministry of Education of Malawi confirmed the implementation of free public secondary education starting in 2026. The decision followed a commitment made by President Arthur Peter Mutharika in October 2025, which authorities reaffirmed during the opening of Parliament at the mid-year budget review.

According to the official statement, authorities abolished examination fees and national identity card issuance fees charged by the Malawi National Examination Board for both primary and secondary national exams, with immediate effect. From January 1, 2026, the government assumed responsibility for the School Development Fund and all other costs previously borne by families in all public secondary schools. As a result, students enrolled in non-boarding public schools, known as day schools, no longer pay any school fees.

However, the policy does not cover all institutions. Public boarding schools will continue to charge boarding fees, while Open Secondary Schools and subsidized schools under the Association of Christian Educators in Malawi will maintain accommodation charges until further notice. For these institutions, the government stated that it will cover the School Development Fund and other fees through direct subsidies and Other Recurrent Transactions, whose arrears authorities cleared through December 2025.

This policy forms part of a broader legal and strategic framework. The measure aligns with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which provides for the progressive introduction of free secondary education. The reform also supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to ensure free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education for all by 2030. In addition, Malawi Vision 2063 and the National Education Sector Plan 2020–2030 place human capital development at the core of public policy.

The reform comes amid persistent access constraints. According to official 2024 data, Malawi recorded a 49.7% transition rate from primary to secondary education, while the net secondary school enrollment rate reached only 16.8%, highlighting the scale of challenges facing the national education system.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum