Tag Archives: Minister of Higher Education

Education

Africa must prioritize science, technology, and evidence-informed decision-making for sustainable development

Maravi Post Reporter

By Jones Gadama

Minister of Higher Education, Jessie Kabwila, has emphasized the need for African nations to prioritize science, technology, and evidence-informed decision-making to drive sustainable development.

Speaking at the 2025 Evidence for Development (Evi4Dev) Conference in Nairobi, Kabwila highlighted the importance of homegrown solutions in addressing Africa’s pressing challenges.

Africa is grappling with numerous challenges, including climate change, youth unemployment, and weak health systems. Kabwila stressed that these challenges demand a bold shift toward locally funded development solutions, with science and evidence at the core.

This approach will enable African countries to develop innovative solutions tailored to their specific needs.

Evidence-informed decision-making is critical in shaping Africa’s future.

Kabwila emphasized the need for policymakers to rely on scientific evidence when making decisions. This approach will ensure that policies are effective, efficient, and sustainable.

The Evi4Dev Conference brought together policymakers, researchers, and development leaders to strategize on how to harness the power of evidence in driving development.

Kabwila also highlighted the need to include women and marginalized groups in development planning. These groups are often excluded from critical decision-making processes, despite being disproportionately affected by development challenges.

By including them in the planning process, African countries can ensure that their needs are taken into account, leading to more equitable and sustainable development outcomes.

The conference was organized by AUDA-NEPAD, AFIDEP, and the Science for Africa Foundation.

It provided a platform for stakeholders to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in harnessing the power of evidence for development.

Building Africa’s science capacity requires broader, fairer collaboration. According to Jan Palmowski, secretary-general of the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, Africa’s share of global science production currently stands at just 4%.

To address this, the African Union has identified investments in science, technology, research, and innovation as key to its Agenda 2063.

The Evi4Dev Conference aimed to develop a unified framework for defining, assessing, and enhancing education system resilience, promote evidence-informed decision-making, and foster collaboration among stakeholders.

Kabwila’s call to action emphasizes the need for African nations to invest in science, technology, and evidence-informed decision-making.

By prioritizing these areas, African countries can develop innovative solutions to their pressing challenges, leading to sustainable development and improved livelihoods for their citizens.

The Evi4Dev Conference marked an important step towards achieving this goal.

Prioritizing science, technology, and evidence-informed decision-making is crucial for Africa’s sustainable development.

By working together, African countries can develop innovative solutions to their pressing challenges, leading to a brighter future for their citizens.

Education

Minister of higher education Dr. Jessie Kabwila visits Hebron and Jubilee Universities to advance MW2063 agenda

Maravi Post Reporter

By Jones Gadama

Minister of Higher Education Dr. Jessie Kabwila embarks on a significant visit to Hebron and Jubilee Universities, aiming to appreciate the institutions’ contributions to the government’s efforts in advancing the MW2063 agenda.

As the first Minister of the newly established Ministry of Higher Education, Dr. Kabwila has been tirelessly visiting public and private universities to assess the quality of services offered.

Dr. Kabwila’s mission is to ensure that all universities comply with academic standards, providing students with skills that benefit the labor market.

Her commitment to academic excellence and relevance is evident in her urging of universities to focus on producing graduates who can contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.

Moreover, Dr. Kabwila issued a strong warning against individuals holding fake certificates, emphasizing the need for authenticity and integrity in the education sector.

She has encouraged employers to audit their staff credentials to verify their legitimacy, promoting a culture of transparency and accountability.

The Minister’s visit to Hebron and Jubilee Universities is a testament to her dedication to promoting quality education and advancing the MW2063 agenda.

As outlined in the MW2063 blueprint, Malawi aims to become an upper-middle-income country by 2063, with a strong emphasis on human capital development.

Dr. Kabwila’s efforts to enhance the quality of education in Malawi are timely and crucial.

By promoting academic excellence, relevance, and integrity, she is helping to ensure that the country’s education system produces graduates who can drive economic growth, innovation, and development.

As the Minister continues her visit to Hebron and Jubilee Universities, she is expected to engage with university administrators, faculty members, and students to discuss ways to improve the quality of education and advance the MW2063 agenda.

About Dr. Jessie Kabwila

Dr. Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula is a renowned Malawian academic, feminist, educator, and activist. She holds a doctorate in comparative literature from Binghamton University and has served as a lecturer at the University of Malawi.

Dr. Kabwila has been a vocal advocate for academic freedom, women’s rights, and social justice.

Her appointment as Minister of Higher Education has been widely welcomed, with many expecting her to bring about significant reforms in the education sector.

As Dr. Kabwila continues to champion the cause of quality education in Malawi, her visit to Hebron and Jubilee Universities marks an important milestone in her efforts to advance the MW2063 agenda.

Education

Minister of Higher Education calls for inclusive development towards Vision 2063

Burnett Munthali

By Burnett Munthali

The Minister of Higher Education, Jessie Kabwira, has urged both the private and public sectors to decentralize development agendas by involving all social classes if Malawi is to achieve sustainable development in line with Vision 2063.

She emphasized that meaningful progress can only be attained when development initiatives are inclusive and consider the needs and contributions of every segment of society.

Kabwira made these remarks in Lilongwe during a dialogue session with the outgoing National Planning Commission (NPC) Director General, Thomas Munthali.

The event was organized by the Malawi School of Government (MSG) as part of its efforts to foster discussions on national development strategies.

During her address, Kabwira stressed the importance of civic education outreach projects that would create awareness and understanding of Vision 2063 among the general public.

She highlighted that many Malawians, especially those in rural areas, have limited knowledge about the national development blueprint, which hinders their participation in its implementation.

Kabwira called for a deliberate effort by both government and non-governmental organizations to educate citizens on the role they can play in realizing the aspirations of Vision 2063.

She noted that sustainable development requires collective action and that decentralizing development initiatives would ensure that all Malawians have a stake in shaping the country’s future.

Speaking during the same event, outgoing NPC Director General, Thomas Munthali, underscored the critical role of youth involvement in development projects.

Munthali stated that engaging young people in economic activities and decision-making processes is vital in reducing youth unemployment and fighting poverty.

He pointed out that when young people are actively involved in development, they contribute significantly to economic growth and social transformation.

Munthali further noted that achieving Vision 2063 requires long-term investments in youth empowerment programs, vocational training, and entrepreneurship initiatives.

He encouraged stakeholders to create platforms where young people can engage with policymakers and actively participate in shaping development policies.

Adding to the discussion, MSG Council Chairperson, Lewis Dzimbiri, highlighted the institution’s mandate in ensuring that all segments of Malawian society have access to information on government projects and national development plans.

Dzimbiri stressed that informed citizens are more likely to participate in governance and development processes, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability.

He further stated that the Malawi School of Government is committed to promoting research, training, and public awareness initiatives that align with the country’s development goals.

The dialogue session underscored the need for collaboration among government institutions, private sector players, and civil society organizations in achieving Vision 2063.

Stakeholders at the event agreed that decentralizing development agendas and promoting civic education are crucial steps toward inclusive and sustainable national progress.

As Malawi continues its journey toward Vision 2063, calls for greater citizen engagement and awareness are expected to shape policy direction and implementation strategies.

It remains to be seen how effectively these recommendations will be integrated into government policies and whether tangible changes will be seen in the country’s development landscape.