By Rahim Abdul

Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Jessie Kabwila, has raised alarm over the fragile state of Malawi’s primary Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), warning that without swift and strategic intervention, the country risks weakening the foundation of its entire education system.

Speaking at Rumphi TTC as part of her second phase of familiarisation tours, Dr. Kabwila moved beyond the usual political rhetoric, offering a candid assessment of the challenges facing TTCs from underfunding to stalled staff promotions and aging infrastructure.

Her remarks suggest a growing urgency within government circles to rescue the institutions that train Malawi’s frontline educators.

She acknowledged that the current budget allocation for TTCs under the 2025/2026 financial year is already showing signs of strain, predicting that it may not sustain operations through to March 2026.

In response, Dr. Kabwila pledged to lobby the Treasury for additional funding during the upcoming mid-year budget review, noting that “without timely financial reinforcement, the system may begin to buckle.”

More than just a tour, the minister’s visit to Rumphi TTC and earlier to Karonga TTC signals a shift toward hands-on governance.

Dr. Kabwila expressed her intention to gain real-time insights from the ground, rather than relying solely on reports.

“We must understand what is truly happening on the frontlines of teacher education if we’re serious about reform,” she said.

She didn’t shy away from admitting that some TTC staff members have gone years without promotion a morale denting situation she described as “regrettable but not irreversible.”

She promised that efforts to address the issue were in motion and urged lecturers to remain steadfast, calling them “pillars in Malawi’s journey towards human capital transformation.”

At the heart of Dr. Kabwila’s message was a renewed call to action for all education stakeholders, including TTC management, staff, development partners, and government agencies, to treat TTCs as strategic institutions critical to the success of the Malawi 2063 vision.

While she commended the dedication of Rumphi TTC staff and applauded their efforts in nurturing quality teachers, Dr. Kabwila made it clear that praise alone won’t sustain progress.