Malawi celebrates Education Day with rising literacy rates

Malawi’s literacy levels have tremendously increased from 40 per cent in 1994 to 63 per cent in 2005, a senior education official said here on Thursday.

Deputy Education Minister Richard Msowoya told journalists during the commemoration of the National Day of Education, observed on every 19 July, that education played an important role in the country’s social, economic and political development.

According to Msowoya, the country’s literacy levels have increased due to the free primary education policy put in place by the former United Democratic Front government of President Bakili Muluzi in 1994.

Msowoya added that the policy had also raised the enrollment of pupils from 1.9 million before 1994 to the current 3.2 million.

"We would like in a few years to see the country reduce its illiteracy levels by half to enhance social and economic development of the country," the minister said, adding that education contributed to poverty reduction among the people.

"Although education is an expensive venture, it is worth it. We need more investment in education," he said.

The occasion began after African Ministers of Education met in Tours, France, in 1995 and agreed to set aside a day to commemorate a National Day of Education.