Malawi's education reforms will be highlighted internationally as Minister of Education Bright Msaka prepares to present the nation's progress at the Education World Forum in London from May 17 to 20, according to Malawi Cables. British diplomatic officials, including Acting High Commissioner Ben Nicholson, praised the evidence-based reforms as a model for improving foundational learning and connecting students to necessary future skills.
Domestically, rising violence and vandalism at schools are threatening the government's free secondary education policy, which rolled out in January 2026. Nation Online reports that Civil Society Coalition for Education Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe warned that unsafe and poorly resourced school environments are forcing some learners to drop out, defeating the policy's primary goal of expanding access.
In higher education, the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) recently hosted its Engineering Symposium with financial support from PressCane Limited. According to Nyasa Times, the partnership is designed to strengthen collaboration between academia and the industrial sector to advance engineering skills, job creation, and practical problem-solving.
Meanwhile, Stella Maris Girls Secondary School won the 2026 Association for the Teaching of English in Malawi (ATEM) national drama finals held at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, Nation Online reports. The school received a K2.5 million top prize for its performance of 'Tales in Hot Tide,' beating 11 other secondary schools. Following the event, Standard Bank pledged to continue its sponsorship of the drama festival to support youth talent and arts education across the country.