Malawi

Malawi is one of the poorest and most densely populated countries in Africa. Nearly one in five children die before their fifth birthday. In rural areas, particularly, there are too few schools. In many regions one in three children get no education at all. Classes are over-full and poorly equipped, and teaching often takes place in the open air. When it rains classes stop. Many children leave school prematurely, in part because teaching is often of a poor standard. Only every other teacher has any formal training. UNICEF is planning to build 130 schools in the poorest areas of Malawi. One thousand schools are to be renovated and re-equipped. UNICEF is providing books, writing materials, educational charts, boards for arithmetic and other teaching materials. Eight thousand teachers are taking part in training courses. Here they also learn to include children in lessons and to give girls appropriate encouragement. UNICEF is also planning to provide schooling grants to enable orphans to attend schools, covering the costs of books, school materials and the school uniform.