Mzuni reforms teachers’ curriculum

Mzuzu University (Mzuni) has been challenged to align its curricula with prevailing realities of the Malawian society as the world is shrinking into a global village.

Valentino Zimpita, chief director for Higher Education in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), appealed for inclusive, equitable and relevant quality education when he launched the review of undergraduate programmes in the faculty of education at the university situated at Luwinga in Mzuzu.

This is the first major curriculum review since Mzuni was opened at what used to be Mzuzu Teacher’s Training College in 1999, according to vice-chancellor Richard Ridley.

Zimpita said: “Quality and relevance are some of the major pillars guiding the education sector in the country. The world keeps changing and there is need for curricula of higher education institutions to reflect both current and emerging issues in our society. I hope the review will take on board the aspirations of the society in a global world.”

Mzuni, which annually graduates about 250 teachers for secondary schools, launched open and distance learning (ODL) with a cohort of 16 teachers last year.

According to Ridley, the university is striving to ensure a flexible system which offers practising teachers an opportunity to upgrade their skills.

He reckoned production of adequate and skilful teachers is key to provision of quality education for all at a time the country has one of the worst teacher-pupil ratio of 1:100. n