Why fund the education of a secondary school student in Malawi?

Malawi, a landlocked country in southeast Africa, ranks among the worlds most populated and least developed countries.1 With relatively limited finances, the Malawian government faces challenges in growing the economy, improving health care, and making education accessible to all. As of 2005, Malawi received 575.3 million in economic aid.2 This developing nation relies on partnerships with foreign aid agencies and non-profit organizations, to invest in all aspects of the country including its education system.3

In 1994 Malawi established free primary school education.4 Although this provides all children with the opportunity to receive at least an eighth grade education, fewer than 25% of eligible Malawian children stay in school for the duration of primary school. This may be due in part to Malawi’s pupil to teacher ratio which is an astounding 80:1, one of the highest in the world.5

Receiving a secondary school degree in Malawi is a rare privilege. As in primary school, few Malwians enroll in secondary school and from that small pool even fewer, about 3.4% of the national population, earn a secondary school degree.6 The School Fund hopes through fostering relationships with nonprofit organizations committed to improving the efficacy and accessibility of education in Malawi, the country known as the “Warm Heart of Africa” can see positive growth in education and the economy, and experience an upward trend in development.


1. CIA World Factbook, Malawi: Economic – overview.
2. World Fact Book 2008, Economic Aid Recipients.
3. CIA World Factbook, Malawi: Economic – overview.
5. Malawi, Help the Children. Why Malawi.
6. Malawi, Help the Children. Why Malawi.

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