Events

President Mutharika Inaugurates DAPP Teacher Training College

President Bingu wa Mutharika officially inaugurated the Amalika Teacher Training College in Thyolo District on Friday, August 21.  The college was established by Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) in Malawi under the Planet Aid / U.S. Department of Agriculture funded “Food for Progress Program.”

The initiative follows the Malawian Government's adoption of a policy encouraging private organizations to participate in teacher training to help in reducing teacher shortage in schools.  The Government of Malawi is currently training 3, 500 teachers per year, a figure the Ministry of Education says is not enough to deal with the teacher shortage.  To close the gap, there is need to train 6,000 teachers per year for at least 5 years, according to Ministry officials. 

Addressing the gathering of about 5,000 people who attended the event, President Mutharika noted the critical role that DAPP is playing in complementing the Malawian Government’s efforts in teachers’ education and other sectors in Malawi.  He lauded the Government and the people of the United States for supporting the construction of the Amalika College and another teacher training college to be constructed in Dowa District in central Malawi.

The President said the assistance continues to contribute to the government’s efforts to improve quality of education in Malawi.  President Mutharika added, “I note with great satisfaction, that DAPP plans to build and run six teacher training colleges across the country by the year 2014 so that it should eventually produce a total of 1,000 primary school teachers every year.  DAPP has already identified resources to build the third college in Dowa.  I would like to congratulate DAPP for achieving so much in a short period. What is more striking about DAPP is its rural and multi-sectoral approach.  Moreover, the students are trained to teach in rural areas is in line with my program for integrated rural development.”

U.S. Ambassador to Malawi Peter W. Bodde highlighted in his remarks the importance of United States food aid to Malawi.  He said, “What began in 2006 as a United States Department of Agriculture Food for Progress agreement has flourished into these structures before us.  This is what one can do when one has a food surplus.  The funds generated for this project became available through selling off surplus foodstuff - the surplus was used for project assistance.”

Ambassador Bodde stated that “Amalika Teacher Training College embodies the cooperation and the strong partnership between United States of America and Malawi; our shared commitment towards improving quality education in this country.  The launch of this U.S.-funded teacher training college marks an important step forward in addressing challenges affecting the education sector by providing standardized pre-service teacher training for all teachers.  Its graduates will help lower the national pupil/teachers ratio and enhance student performance.”

The Ambassador added, “President Barack Obama stated earlier this year in Ghana: ‘Nations have the responsibility to build institutions that will serve their people.'  I can think of no better example than this institution, which will serve the Malawians and allow for greater access to education.  Unlike other programs which take years to produce results, the communities where these teachers practice feel the impact immediately.  These teachers learn the standard curriculum but in addition to this, they are also educated in leadership, entrepreneurship, health and hygiene, and women’s advocacy.  Equipped with these skills, the students have already become role models in the community, with a potential to rise as community leaders.”

In her welcome remarks earlier, DAPP Malawi chairperson Ms Bolette Strandbygaard said, “We share a common goal; the goal of a country where all children complete their basic education, where teachers are able to reach each and every child, and where every child in this way has got a foundation to create a better life for him or herself.  We are here because we have taken upon ourselves to play our part in this important task – in so many different ways.”

Chairperson for Humana People to People, Ms Maria Darsbo thanked the U.S. Government for its support to the people of Malawi - by providing the funds to carry out the public-private partnership under the headline, “Food for Progress.”

The Food for Progress Partnership is a public-private partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Planet Aid, Inc. - with DAPP Malawi as an implementing partner.  Planet Aid is a United States-based non-profit organization and a member of Humana People to People.  In 2006, Planet Aid entered into an agreement under USDA’s Food for Progress program to enhance rural development in Malawi through a number of programs, including training of rural primary school teachers, implemented by DAPP Malawi.  Through the USDA funded Food for Progress program, more than 500,000 Malawians benefit on a yearly basis.  The program includes the components of teacher training, nutrition education provided by American Soybean Association’s WISHH program, HIV & AIDS prevention – and establishment and operation of Farmers Clubs to increase income and improve livelihoods of small-scale farmers in Malawi.