Welcome to "Through a Glass Darkly" - my blog about my service trip to Malawi, Africa.

I left Canada on December 30th for Blantyre, Malawi, AFRICA. I worked with Friends of Malawi Fellowship (FOMF), the organization headed by my aunt Phyllis Labrentz. I taught English language and literature, helping secondary high school students learn to read and write English well enough to pass the government exams.
During that time I was also kept busy teaching guitar, singing, and assisting my aunt.
I left Malawi on July 19th and returned to Canada on July 20th.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

UNIVERSITY IN MALAWI? WAIT.


I've found out more information about what happens with secondary school final exams and applying to university in Malawi. The system is difficult and extremely long.

The secondary school government exams are written in July. The results are usually not ready until late September or early October. Prospective post-secondary students must WAIT until MARCH of next year to write entrance exams. Then they wait some more. IF they are chosen, they likely won't get to actually begin until the FOLLOWING September.

These students essentially must put their lives on hold and try to hang on for up to TWO YEARS before they can hope to begin their post-secondary education. I'm sure that many of these prospective students find themselves unable to go to university by that time.

                

      

5 comments:

  1. Richie22 May 2012 at 07:32

    That is heart breaking...what is the cost of schooling there?

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    Replies
    1. Inez22 May 2012 at 10:31

      That, I do not know. I will be looking into this further.

      Delete
    2. Inez22 May 2012 at 10:33

      President Joyce Banda wants to make changes in the educational system: eliminating the quota system was one thing published. Hopefully she will be able to do something about the wait.

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    3. Inez3 June 2012 at 11:25

      Richie, I saw a notice in the paper for the nursing/midwifery program. Fees (including boarding) for the year were 350,000 kwacha. That's about $1400.

      Delete
  2. di.spencer22 May 2012 at 13:19

    Just another reason why this country is in so much trouble. The students who are blessed enough to be sponsored for a higher education right out of high school will probably stay with their sponsors and be educated in another country. When they have completed their studies, most would probably find work in that country so Malawi would never benefit from their education. I hope the new President can see that and make higher education readily available immediately after high school to those who want it.

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