Malawi is preparing to host the 2026 Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX2026) at the Bingu wa Mutharika International Convention Centre in Lilongwe. According to the Association for the Development of Education in Africa, the three-day summit begins on July 15 and will convene over 600 education leaders, policymakers, and researchers from more than 40 African countries. Minister of Education Bright Msaka stated that the gathering offers a platform for nations to share educational solutions and measure collective progress toward ending learning poverty across the continent by 2035.
In a related development, Parliament has committed to launching an inquiry into the state of foundational learning in Malawian primary schools, Nyasa Times reports. The announcement was made on Monday during the presentation of a new policy brief titled "Are Our Children Learning?". Mutani Tambala, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Technology, indicated that the probe will investigate why a large number of students continue to lack basic literacy and numeracy skills despite broader access to education. Tambala emphasized that the inquiry is necessary to identify systemic gaps and hold the government accountable for actual classroom results.
In higher education, the University of Malawi has launched a new initiative to strengthen its academic research capabilities. According to a university announcement, UNIMA opened a three-day grant writing workshop on July 13 for 40 researchers, early-career academics, and staff members. Organized by the Centre for Social Research in collaboration with the Department of Research and Innovation, the sessions focus on research design, budgeting, and financial management. Dr. Maurice Monjerezi, UNIMA Director of Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, noted that the training is designed to help local academics translate their ideas into competitive proposals to secure international and national funding.