The introduction of a free-for-all
elementary school education plan had led to increased school attendance
on an elementary school level to a great degree. However, given the
rapid increase in education-related demand, there was not yet sufficient
infrastructure, including classrooms, textbooks, and teachers, and
as a result the deterioration of the quality of elementary and secondary
education became an issue.
In order to solve this problem and to provide appropriate administration-level
services in education, the Malawian Government indicated that they
needed Japanese support in technical
cooperation for strengthening the capacities of the central and
local administration systems. The Japanese Government's answer was
the "National Implementation Program for District Education Plans."
The first phase of this program was the introduction of the District
Education Plans (DEPs), now conducted in 33 prefectures provinces
in Malawi.
Some of the questions facing us were like this: where should we construct
school buildings and in which regions? How could we secure the children�s
access to schools? The two years from 2000 were spent on drafting
a basic school mapping (district planning), research and analyses
on the situations surrounding education, and discussing the Development
of Education Plans (DEPs). One in every six provinces was chosen as
a "test province," and also training workshops for the DEPs
were organized throughout Malawi. Not only representatives from the
province assemblies and administrations, but also village oligarch
and children-the chief beneficiaries in education-actively participated
in the workshops, and it resulted in promoting a renewed understanding
of the importance of education and in making them aware of their own
active roles in the creation and administration of the schools: that
was the concept of "ownership"
needed among the Malawians.
|
|
That is the history of the
DEPs, conducted in all 33 provinces in Malawi. The Malawian Government
itself also contributed by requesting follow-up projects needed for
the DEPs, and in response, Japan is in the middle of conducting and
completing the National Implementation Program for District Education
Plans by 2005. The goals of this project include expansion of the
DEPs from pilot provinces to other regions and, more importantly,
providing the Malawians (including responsible people - educators
and politicians - in the central and regional governments) with the
means to achieve the implementation of education and the creation
of appealing learning environments.
Many things, including making estimates within a given budget, setting
a time table of delivery and supplying of teaching tools, such as
textbooks and desks, are new to the Malawians: many of them are in
fact often confused. In order to achieve the skills needed to make
practical plans for school administration, they themselves need to
try and see what is possible. There are so many problems waiting to
be solved, such as further planning of teacher training programs,
supplying teaching materials and tools, and providing teachers with
housing. However, the eagerness and high motivations among the Malawians
in charge of education are a clear sign that there is bright future
in Malawi.
|
