Think deep about education, Mr President
I was in Lilongwe on Tuesday this week and I met a longtime friend, Steve Ndhlovu. Just like me, Steve is an educationist. Unfortunately, fate threw us away from classrooms.
He is now heading the education branch of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) and here I am writing columns and news stories at Nation Publications Limited (NPL). But this, however, has not stopped our concern on matters of education in Malawi.
That is why when we met last Tuesday—by the way we also had friends: Chris Chisoni, Mr Nkungula, Chimwemwe Phiri, Martin Mazinga and Casterns Mulume in the fold—we talked a great deal about cyclic poverty facing Malawi which, in our varying wisdom, we concluded that it stems from our dysfunctional education system. To this far, Steve asked me to publish the letter he wrote below which, basically, is his educational wish addressed to President Peter Mutharika. I feel honoured to publish it below. Read:
It is with joy that I write you sir. I recognise that as new President of this country, Malawi’s prospect for growth is clasped between your arms. You can break or mend this country’s future and all its dreams. Like noted from the leadership of those before you, Malawi has potential to move forward, but also opportunity to forever be stuck in political mediocrity.
Sir, this country is not any individual person’s property; not even you as president. It collectively belongs to all Malawians. Presidents come and go; people of all class, religion, tribe and education are born, raised and die, but this country remains. Your immediate predecessor will attest to this. She has done a two-year term, packed up and has headed home.
This country’s problems are deep. Illiteracy levels hover around 40 percent. In a country that ranks 170 out of 187 countries on the United Nations Human Development Index, you will come to know that pupils go up to Standard Six without acquiring essential literacy and numeracy skills. If children are in school, some of them are not learning; if they are at home, they are either herding cattle, selling cassava, bananas and groundnuts on the country’s dirty streets; or indeed, they are in the fields working—some of them are/have been forced into child marriages, manufacturing children at whirlwind’s speed!
Sir, motivate Malawi’s teachers through pay hikes, good housing facilities, enough teaching and learning materials and sensible and consistent curriculum and syllabi. The foundation of this country rests on teachers. From six years until, maybe, early 20s, Malawi’s children spend (or are supposed to spend) almost three quarters of their time in school. Teachers shape leaders of generations. You are a product of such; your deputy is and so are almost all the people around you. Accord teachers the respect and support they deserve. Why are they taken away from class, away from ovens meant to bake this country’s future, onto political rallies just to offer the presidency a dance? Sad. Isn’t it?
The Ministry of Education is a tired and old institution that operates on traditions and routine. Shake it for the good of this country. Policies are formulated and shelved. Where is the re-admission policy? Such a good and timely tool requires publicity and awareness to encourage young girls who dropped out of school because some “Boko Harams” impregnated them and some head teachers decided to chase them from school forever.
Recent studies indicate that about 28 000 girls were impregnated between 2010 and 2012 academic years at both primary and secondary schools. Now, isn’t this a sure thing to believe there is also “Boko Haram” among us? These pregnancies are too many on young girls aspiring to get an education.
Sir, it is the hope of this country that when you see boys and girls you are not seeing prospective young cadets for your party; or indeed young people that you will paint blue, from head to toe, and embarrassingly parade them in front of you, for no real cause, but only for glorification and praise-singing. And, may be for that day’s bread – a little penny. Sad. Isn’t this sad? Then what makes one sad?
You have been in the US for so many years. You have travelled far and wide, the length and breadth of the world. Is that what they are doing to their youth?
By the way, there will be a horde of selfish youths, illiterate or literate – some even graduates – who will praise you, worship you and support your dictatorial tendencies, if you grow any. Sir, this is the most dangerous lot of our disgraceful youth. Send these hoodlums off to work instantly. They are the shame of this country! They want favours. They want easy jobs. Tell them the best things of this life aren’t free, and don’t come on a silver platter. They must work for them. Praise-singing isn’t work deserving a pay.
Lastly, Your Excellency, your deputy is a young man. He has sacrificed a lot to get there with you. He had a decent job. I don’t know who approached who, but for you to torture that guy, sideline him and turn him into a disaster will be a sad thing for the youth of this country to see. All your predecessors have tortured their deputies. What is wrong with the presidency in this country? Do people get bewitched when they get there?
The people of Malawi wish you all success and are willing to move with you on this journey towards Malawi’s redemption from shackles of mediocrity and poverty.
It is my hope the President will have a reading of this. Thanks Steve.
