CSEC’s Statement on the 2024–25 Mid-Year Budget Review: Strengthening Commitments to Education for a Brighter Future

Issued this 6th day of December 2024.

Introduction

The Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) acknowledges the Government’s continued efforts to address the fiscal challenges in the 2024–25 Revised Budget. We appreciate the commitment to enhancing revenue collection and implementing austerity measures to stabilize the economy. However, we encourage the Government to maintain a strong focus on the education sector, ensuring that it remains a priority in the budget allocation. While addressing fiscal constraints, it is essential that the needs of Malawi’s children and youth are not overlooked. Education is a fundamental human right and the foundation for socio-economic development, and we urge the Government to reflect this priority by allocating sufficient resources to ensure that all children have access to quality, accessible, and equitable education.

Positive Highlights

We commend the Government for reaffirming its investment commitment in education despite the broader fiscal constraints. The revised budget reflects a commitment to addressing critical challenges in the sector. Notably, the allocation for education infrastructure, including the construction and rehabilitation of schools, has been prioritized. We also welcome the focus on enhancing teacher training and supplying educational materials. While the budget statement does not provide a specific total allocation for education, it emphasizes the need for priority funding in the sector.

Furthermore, the budget outlines increased funding for marginalized and vulnerable communities, which aligns with CSEC’s advocacy for more inclusive education policies. Social protection initiatives indirectly support education by alleviating challenges faced by vulnerable students. The expansion of digital learning tools and resources is a step in the right direction to modernize the education system and make it more accessible to all students, especially in the wake of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the commitment to improve governance in the education sector through digitization is a welcome development.

Concerns

However, there are concerns regarding the absence of concrete budget commitment for the sector, particularly in addressing the ongoing challenges of access and quality. Although the allocation represented a significant portion of the 2024–2025 national budget, it remains insufficient to fully address the disparities in educational access between urban and rural areas, as well as the high student-teacher ratio in many schools. The growing teacher shortages and the need for better teacher remuneration and professional development remain significant barriers to improving education quality.

The ongoing challenge of infrastructure gaps, especially in rural areas, must also be addressed more effectively. Although the Government has taken steps toward improving school infrastructure, the resources allocated are not sufficient to bridge the vast infrastructure deficit, which is critical for providing a conducive learning environment.

Call to Action / Recommendations

1. We urge the Government to consider allocating a higher percentage of the national budget to education, ensuring that the sector receives sufficient resources to meet the challenges outlined above, including addressing infrastructure gaps and teacher shortages.
2. CSEC urges the government to address the teacher shortage by expanding training, improving salaries, prioritizing teacher recruitment, and clearing arrears for promoted teachers. Over 340 secondary school teachers report missing promotion letters and salary adjustments, which undermines morale and the education system.
3. We recommend the Government strengthen the monitoring and evaluation systems within the education sector to ensure that the allocated funds are effectively utilized, and education outcomes are continuously improved.
4. More resources should be allocated to support marginalized communities, including children with disabilities, girls, and those from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds as well as those learning in CDSS’s, to ensure equitable access to quality education.
5. We encourage further investment in digital learning platforms, especially in remote and rural areas, to help bridge the gap in education access and improve learning outcomes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the 2024–25 Revised Budget presents some promising initiatives, CSEC urges the Government to ensure that education remains a priority. We must promote effective utilization of the budget allocation, fiscal discipline, and a concrete strategy to address the challenges faced by the education sector. Investing in education is an investment in the future of Malawi, and we must ensure that all children have access to quality education that will enable them to contribute to the country’s development. CSEC stands ready to work with the Government and other stakeholders to achieve these goals and ensure that the education sector is adequately funded and effectively managed.