By Rahim Abdul
The Malawi Government is set to recruit 1,100 secondary school teachers this year as it seeks to ease teacher shortages and overcrowding in classrooms.
Minister of Education Bright Msaka announced the plan in Lilongwe on Monday during a press briefing held as part of activities commemorating this year’s Teachers’ Day.
Bright Msaka
Msaka said 11,000 people applied for the positions, but only 1,100 will be recruited due to financial constraints.
He said the limited recruitment reflects the need to address challenges in the education sector while working within the resources available to government.
The minister also said government plans to improve teachers’ welfare and working conditions by addressing issues such as salaries, promotions, accommodation and excessive workloads.
Msaka described teachers as a key pillar of national development, saying professionals across different sectors owe part of their success to the teaching profession.
“Teachers are the foundation of national development. When you see professors, engineers or even people in the media, they all became who they are because of teachers,” he said.
The minister acknowledged the challenges teachers face in their daily work and stressed the importance of continued support to ensure quality education for learners.
This year’s Teachers’ Day is being commemorated under the theme “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the teaching profession, raising its status and shaping our future.”
The theme highlights the importance of recognising teachers’ contribution, promoting the profession and supporting a sustainable future for education in Malawi.
