Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has maintained its ban on holiday classes ahead of the August break, saying the school calendar provides adequate time for teaching.
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Spokesperson, Lily Kampani, said the directive prohibiting holiday classes was still in force and that holidays are meant for learners to rest and participate in other developmental activities outside the classroom.
“Schools are therefore expected to comply with the existing guidance and refrain from organising such classes during the school holidays. Inspectors are currently on the ground monitoring compliance with the directive,” she said.
Kampani encouraged members of the public to report schools found conducting holiday classes so that appropriate action can be taken.
“The school calendar provides adequate time for teaching and learning during the academic term, while holidays are intended to give learners an opportunity to rest,” she stated.
However, an education expert, Benedicto Kondowe, says the ban risks widening inequality if government does not provide alternative support within the school term, particularly for Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) and Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) candidates.
“The school calendar is designed to provide sufficient time for effective teaching. However, the reality is that some schools face challenges such as teacher shortages and large class sizes that affect syllabus coverage,” he said.
Kondowe said enforcement alone will not work because inspectors and district education managers already operate under resource constraints.
“Government must provide structured and inclusive academic support programmed within the public education system. The principle should be that every learner, regardless of economic background, has an equal opportunity to succeed,” he added.
He said that the ministry must also address the reasons that make schools and parents rely on holiday classes.
