Teachers challenged to deliver with available resources

Government has challenged teachers and education managers to innovate and deliver quality education using available resources.

Minister of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) Emmanuel Fabiano was speaking last Friday when he officially opened the 2016 Joint Sector Review (JSR) meeting in Lilongwe.

Fabiano warned that “I will not take the unavailability of monetary resources as an excuse for us not to deliver services” although I am cognizant of the tough economic times Malawi is sailing through at the moment.

He said it is high time teachers and education managers stopped blaming the dwindling standards of education on inadequate resources, emphasising that mindset is critical to turning around things in the education sector.

“I have said now and again that if we are bad managers, should not expect any miracles in terms of improvements in the sector. If we are bad drivers, we are certainly taking our sector into the wrong direction,” said the minister.

Fabiano deplored the tendency by some education managers to report for work/duties late, saying this contributes significantly to the lowering of standards of education in the country.

“Sometimes, it just requires a change of mindset on our part. There are so many things that we can change using the available resources. Think of how much change can be realised just by keeping time; making sure that classes start on time!” he said.

In his remarks, the German Chargé d´Affaires, Thomas Staiger , said education remains key for economic and social development and therefore an urgent priority is needed for any country to register meaningful transformation in all sectors of life.

Staiger said education features prominently among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, hence, he hailed the ministry for being the first to hold the JSR this year.

“With SDG number 4 we committed to ensure inclusive and quality education for all until 2030 and to promote lifelong learning. In Malawi, the strategic priorities in the National Education Sector Plan (NESP) and the Education Sector Improvement Plan (ESIP II) are increasing equitable access, improving quality and relevance as well as improving governance and management of the education sector,” he said.