• Reform prioritises practical skills, literacy and numeracy through 2030

• Plan strengthens vocational pathways; all students literate and numerate by grade four

• Reform targets learning gaps, youth unemployment in one of world’s poorest countries

Malawi's government on Friday unveiled an education reform plan aimed at refocusing teaching on practical skills and foundational literacy and numeracy, in a bid to improve academic outcomes and boost youth employability. Speaking at the close of the Joint Education Sector Review in Lilongwe, Minister of Education, Science and Technology Bright Msaka said the measure is designed to guide the country's educational priorities through 2030.

The reform envisages transforming teaching practices from primary school onward, making teachers accountable for delivering lessons directly relevant to students' future careers. A major focus involves supporting students drawn to technical and practical skills through the strengthening of Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) pathways, Msaka explained. By fourth grade, every student should "be able to read, write and demonstrate basic numeracy skills," he added.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to address learning gaps. Recent UNICEF data show that only 19 percent of children aged 7 to 14 possess fundamental reading skills and 13 percent have basic numeracy competencies, limiting their educational and professional trajectories.

The program seeks to address the need to align education with labor market demands in a low-income country where the deficit in basic skills restricts access to formal employment and hampers productivity. UNICEF Representative and Chair of the Education Development Partners Group (EDPG) Penelope Campbell welcomed the progress and the government's commitment, notably through preparatory classes (P Class), free secondary education and the proposal to allocate 20 percent of the Constituency Development Fund to education, thereby strengthening the national education ecosystem.

The reform is rolling out in a context where Malawi remains one of the world's poorest countries, with GDP per capita of around $504 in 2024 according to available data, weak economic growth and a large youth population seeking professional opportunities. Against this backdrop, improving teaching effectiveness and developing technical and vocational skills are seen as essential levers for reducing unemployment, spurring entrepreneurship and fostering inclusive growth in the years ahead.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou