According to andyeducation, the educational system in Malawi is based on the 8-4-4 system, which is the national curriculum adopted from Kenya in the 1980s. This system divides education into three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary education consists of 8 years of compulsory schooling and it is free for all children between the ages of 6 and 14. Secondary education consists of 4 years of study and upon successful completion, students can pursue higher education in a university or college. At the primary level, schools provide basic literacy and numeracy skills as well as social studies, physical education and humanities courses. There are also special programs available to help children with disabilities or who are at risk of dropping out due to poverty or other issues. Additionally, some schools offer vocational training in carpentry, mechanics and other trades to help prepare students for future employment opportunities. At the secondary level, students must choose between either a technical school or an academic school depending on their interests and future career plans. Technical schools provide training in trades such as carpentry or mechanics whereas academic schools focus more on traditional subject areas such as mathematics, science and English language studies. Upon completion of secondary school students can continue their studies at a university or college where they can pursue higher education in their chosen field. Malawi has several public universities located throughout the country offering Bachelor’s degrees across various disciplines such as business administration, engineering sciences, computer sciences and more. Additionally there are many private universities that specialize in particular fields such as law or medicine among others. There are also several vocational schools providing technical training for those interested in pursuing a career in trades such as plumbing or carpentry. Furthermore there are numerous opportunities for postgraduate studies at both public and private universities including Master’s degrees and doctorates with specializations ranging from medicine to international relations among others. Overall the educational system in Malawi provides access to quality learning opportunities for all citizens allowing them to acquire knowledge that will help them prepare for successful careers within their chosen field of study upon completion of their studies. See educationvv for Malawi educational systems.
