Institutions of higher learning tasked to provide solutions

Minister of Education Agness NyaLonje has challenged higher education institutions to do more research to help address problems facing the education sector and the country as a whole.

The minister made the appeal in Lilongwe yesterday when she engaged top management of public higher education institutions to discuss challenges in the education sector, research, financing and other issues.

She said it was worrisome that the country is not doing well in the area of research, making it hard to address problems.

Said NyaLonje: “Sometimes the research that is done is not in line with the country’s areas of research needs.

“We cannot make informed decisions if we do not invest in research. Having data will help guide decision-makers make informed decisions based on the right information but also see which problems to prioritise.”

The minister said while there was a unit set up specifically for research at the University of Malawi, it has delivered little.

“I think we should all be demanding evidence for decisionmaking. We are thinking changing policies for selection, let research dictate us what needs to be changed and what is the best option,” NyaLonje said.

She further urged institutions of higher learning to help develop solutions that will address challenges in primary and secondary education but also produce human capital that will help solve the country’s challenges.

However, she acknowledged that for tertiary institutions to thrive there is need for a good foundation at primary and secondary education levels.

In 2021, only 235 759 out of 471 674 children eligible for Standard Eight were registered for that class nationwide.

In her remarks, Malawi University of Science and Technology vice-chancellor Adress Malata admitted that there is not much being done when it come to research.

She said institutions of higher learning need to help in providing solutions to challenges facing the education sector and other sectors and called for collaboration among institutions of higher learning to do research.

“There should be coordination. No one individual, no one University, no one institution can make a difference. We have to coordinate, we have to cooperate. Yes, we can compete, Malawi is too small, let us work as a team,” said Malata.

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Council chairperson Zachary Kasomekera said it is time for institutions of higher learning to intensify on research and provide data that would help guide in decision-making.

He also called for collaborative efforts among institutions of higher learning, including private institutions to find solutions to problems facing the education sector and the country as a whole.

The Ministry of Education 2020-2021 Education Sector Performance Report states that there have been several interventions made both in primary and secondary education sectors to help improve education.

However, pursuit of universal education has intensified demand for resources.