EU Delegation Visits School of Education

A delegation from the European Union (EU) on Thursday, 6th November 2025, visited the University of Malawi’s School of Education to engage with academic leadership and assess ongoing teacher training initiatives.

The delegation, led by Mr. Paul Mwangi, Team Leader for the Improved Secondary Education in Malawi (ISEM) project, held discussions with Dr. Peter Namphande, Executive Dean of the School of Education, along with lecturers delivering the University Certificate in Education (UCE) programme. Their discussions centred on the progress of the training, which commenced on 25th August 2025, the challenges encountered so far, and strategies to strengthen the programme ahead of its next phase.

During the visit, the delegation toured the clothing and textile workshop, which will be used as a practical training facility for 60 clothing and textile (CTEX) teachers beginning their training on 8th December 2025. Through this initiative, the School of Education will be equipping secondary school teachers with skills to effectively teach clothing and textile subjects.

Dr. Namphande highlighted that the School recently submitted two bids under the Malawi Government’s ISEM II project, supported by the EU, aimed at enhancing teacher capacity.

“We presented a bid to train teachers in two areas. First, in clothing and textiles, where we have been allocated 60 teachers. Second, the University Certificate in Education, which trains and qualifies secondary school teachers within one year,” he explained.

As the first institution mandated to train teachers in Malawi, the School of Education continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening the country’s education sector. The UCE programme equips unqualified secondary school teachers with formal pedagogical skills, contributing significantly to improved teaching quality nationwide.

Dr. Namphande emphasized the importance of the EU’s visit, noting that it provided the delegation with a clear understanding of the programme’s challenges while offering valuable guidance for the next phase. He described the partnership as an important boost to Malawi’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of secondary education.