• National SCI4O contest brings together teams from across Malawi

• Winning schools receive science equipment worth 3 million kwacha each

• Initiative aligns with Malawi’s updated science and innovation strategy

The 2025 edition of the national “Science for All (SCI4O)” contest was held on Saturday, November 22, at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi. Organized by the Science for All Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the event brought together teams from school districts across the country.

This year, six teams from secondary schools and community day secondary schools (CDSS) competed. Two institutions from the Shire Highlands division were crowned champions and will each receive 3 million kwacha (about $1 730) in science equipment. Kasungu Secondary School and Mponela CDSS finished as runners-up and will share 4 million kwacha. Organizers note that the team-of-two format aims to expand access to science and create fairer opportunities for community schools.

According to Ruth Samati Kambali, director of secondary education at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the contest supports ongoing reforms to improve science results, broaden access to quality education, and prepare students for a technological world. She also stressed its alignment with the government’s ambition to build an economy based on knowledge, innovation, and research.

For his part, Kondwani Jambo, founding president of the Science for All Foundation, said the program aims to “inspire young learners in Malawi to pursue careers in science and promote scientific advancement.”

The initiative is part of broader efforts. The Malawian government has recently updated its National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP) to accelerate the implementation of Malawi Vision 2063. The revised policy aims to strengthen research, modernize science education, and encourage local innovation to support the country’s economic transformation.