Jonas Banda
Dear Honourable Minister,
I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Jonas Banda, a third-year education student at the University of Malawi, and I am writing to you with great concern about the silent yet worsening crisis that private schools in our country are facing.
As someone deeply invested in the future of education in Malawi, it pains me to witness the struggles these schools are enduring, without the attention and support they desperately need.
For years, private schools have played an instrumental role in complementing the efforts of the government to provide quality education to all Malawians. They have offered many families an alternative to the overcrowded and underfunded public schools, and their contribution has been invaluable.
However, these institutions are now facing severe financial difficulties that threaten their very existence, and it is crucial that we, as a nation, step in to prevent this crisis from worsening.
Between 2020 and 2025, the cost of living in Malawi has soared, with basic commodities becoming unaffordable for many. Private schools, like other institutions, are not immune to these economic pressures.
The price of essentials such as food and teaching materials has skyrocketed. For instance, the same sugar that cost K750 in 2020 is now priced at K4000. For schools that depend on stable finances to provide meals for students and maintain staff, these increases have created an insurmountable burden.
These institutions are now caught between a rock and a hard place—if they raise fees to meet these rising costs, they risk losing the very students they aim to serve; if they don’t raise fees, they face closure or bankruptcy.
What makes the situation even more dire is the loss of financial support from many families whose livelihoods are tied to NGOs, particularly those who depended on USAID funding. With the withdrawal of USAID from Malawi, many parents can no longer afford to keep their children enrolled in private schools.
As a result, schools have seen a sharp decline in enrollment, leading to even more financial strain. Some private schools are unable to pay their teachers, and others are being forced to shut their doors in silence, unable to survive the economic storm.
Honourable Minister, private schools are not just businesses—they are an essential part of the educational system in Malawi. They offer opportunities for students to access quality education, and their closure would be a tremendous loss to our nation’s educational landscape.
The future of many young Malawians depends on the continued existence of these schools. If we stand by and let them collapse, we risk undermining the very fabric of our education system.
It is time for the government to recognize the urgent need for support. Private schools cannot be left to navigate this crisis alone.
I urge you, Honourable Minister, to engage with the Private Schools Association of Malawi (PRISAM) to understand the challenges they face and to explore possible solutions that will allow them to continue operating and providing quality education to our children.
Government intervention is not just necessary—it is crucial if we are to ensure that these schools can weather this storm and continue to contribute to the education of the nation.
As a young Malawian and a future educator, I believe that every child in Malawi deserves access to quality education. Private schools have been doing their part in fulfilling this need, but they can no longer do it alone.
The government must step in and provide the support these institutions need to continue their work. If we let these schools fail, we are jeopardizing the future of many students who rely on them.
I thank you for your attention to this critical matter, and I trust that you will take the necessary steps to address the challenges faced by private schools in Malawi. Our children’s futures depend on it.
Sincerely,
Jonas Banda
Third-Year Education Student
University of Malawi
