Policy and Programme Considerations to Address Education Challenges in Malawi Due to Covid-19 Disruptions

Abstract

On 23 March 2020, the Malawi Government announced the closure of all schools to contain the spread of Covid-19. A gradual re-opening plan was announced and fully implemented in October 2020. Schools were then closed again in January 2021 due to a surge in Covid-19 cases, followed by teacher industrial action which impacted on learning and dropouts as learners were sent home or left unattended during the stand-off. Schools were then reopened in March 2021. This brief explores the challenges children faced in accessing education during school closures, and the continued challenges they face in returning to school and catching up on lost learning despite ongoing mitigation efforts. It draws on these findings to offer policy and programme recommendations to support ongoing efforts to mitigate the impacts of the crisis on learning in Malawi and to build a more resilient education system in the future.