Ministry empowers science teachers

Minister of Education Agnes NyaLonje has asked science teachers from Karonga and Chitipa to provide innovative lessons to learners to equip them with knowledge to help realise the country’s development blueprint, Malawi Vision 2063.

The minister made the call on Friday at Maghemo Secondary School in Karonga where she officially opened a nine-day orientation session of 76 science and mathematics teachers from the two districts.

Said NyaLonje: “Government wants Malawi to become an upper-middle-class economy by 2063.

“That is why government wants to build schools, teachers’ houses, laboratories, libraries and buy books to produce brains to help shape the country’s socio-economic development.”

She also warned authorities against politicising the distribution of resources such as desks and teachers’ houses in the country.

On his part, the ministry’s director of administration James Manyetera said the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Project seeks to equip about 5 500 science and mathematics teachers with new skills.

“Since the curriculum has changed over the years, there is great need for science and mathematics teachers to be oriented for them to move with time,” he said.

Manyetera said the project will purchase 1.2 million science and mathematics books and 24 teachers’ guide books to minimise challenges of shortage of books with the first consignment arriving in the country in two weeks.

In an interview, a participant from Lufilya Secondary School, Malifa Pity, commended the ministry for the training, saying she acquired new skills that will enable her teach sciences better.

“Many students, especially girls, regard sciences as difficult. However, I have acquired skills to make the lessons exciting,” she said.