Ministry relaunches technical subjects in primary schools

By Brenda Kayo:

Education Minister Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima has commended the Teaching of Technical Subjects in Primary Schools initiative, saying it will help youths develop skills and acquire the knowledge they need to succeed in life.

Kambauwa Wirima said this at Senga Model Primary School in Dowa District on Monday during the re-launch of the subjects.

Technical subjects that have been reintroduced include home economics, needle craft, woodwork, metalwork, brickwork, indigenous artifacts and technical drawing

“Equipping young students with technical skills will be helpful to the development of Malawi as the students will be economically empowered. Technical education promotes lifelong learning, including improved productivity through industrialisation.

“Therefore, the re-launch of technical subjects will help Malawi develop and embrace industrialisation,” she said.

Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (Teveta) Regional Service Centre Manager Joseph Sambaya said technical skills would help students choose whether to go for Teveta opportunities or blue-collar opportunities.

“Giving them a chance at a tender age is important because they have the leeway to choose subjects they can focus on,” he said.

The Ministry of Education has indicated that the re-introduced technical subjects will be taught in 34 model primary schools across the country.