Malawi is confronting a severe education crisis as poverty, inadequate funding, and the ongoing economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic push thousands of children out of school, according to Nyasa Times. Despite long-standing free primary education policies, many families in rural communities are struggling to keep their children in class.
Education scholar Moses Ngware stated that while school participation improved significantly in the early 2000s, progress has slowed in recent years as government financing falls short and donor support declines. This financial pressure has resulted in overcrowded classrooms, shortages of teaching materials, and rising dropout rates. Girls face a particularly high risk of leaving school due to early marriage and teenage pregnancy.