Mutharika Unveils Education Reforms to Expand Access

President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has announced new measures to expand access to education and improve learning outcomes as part of the country’s development agenda.

Speaking during his State of the Nation Address in Lilongwe, Mutharika said government will strengthen pre-primary education and introduce digital skills early to prepare learners for a modern system.

He said construction of primary schools under the Malawi Education Reform Programme, supported by the Global Partnership for Education, will continue to ease classroom shortages.

The President noted that free tuition in public secondary schools has enabled over 1,800 learners who had dropped out due to financial challenges to return to school.

At tertiary level, government will allocate funds in the 2026/27 budget to complete stalled infrastructure at Mombera University and expand the student loan scheme from 32,480 to 38,000 beneficiaries.

Mutharika said sustained investment in education is vital to building a skilled population and driving economic recovery.