President Peter Mutharika’s directive to make primary and secondary education free in Malawi has drawn wide praise, with many describing it as a timely and transformative move that will ease the financial burden on families across the country.
Mutharika reaffirmed the government’s commitment during the official opening of the 52nd Session of Parliament, clarifying that only boarding students will continue paying boarding fees, while all development fees in both primary and secondary schools have been abolished.
The Old Mutual (Blantyre) Foundation Trust, a philanthropic arm of Old Mutual Malawi Limited, has commended the directive through its Chairperson, Tawonga Manda, saying it marks a milestone in promoting equitable access to education.
“This is a timely and progressive directive that will relieve many families who have been struggling to meet school-related costs. It will also ensure that no child is denied an education simply because of financial challenges,” said Manda.
The Foundation has been supporting education through its bursary programme, which currently assists 361 secondary school students across Malawi. Over the past four years, it has invested more than MK500 million in this initiative.
Manda, however, noted that despite the Foundation’s efforts, the demand for educational support remains high due to the large number of students facing financial hardships.
“While our bursary initiative has made a difference, we have not been able to reach every deserving student. This government intervention will go a long way in closing that gap, reducing dropout rates, and encouraging more learners to stay in school,” he added.
Beyond bursary support, the Foundation is also investing in improving school infrastructure by constructing classroom blocks in primary schools across the country, helping create safer and more conducive learning environments.
