26/10/2025
The Ministry of Education, through the Malawi Institute of Education (MIE), has launched a new National Curriculum Framework to make education more practical, inclusive, and skills-driven.
The reform replaces the Outcome-Based Curriculum (OBC) with a Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) that emphasises critical thinking, creativity, and real-life application of knowledge.
The new 1–6–6–3 structure includes one year of preparatory class, six years of primary, six years of secondary, and three years of tertiary or vocational training.
MIE Executive Director Frank Mtemang’ombe said the change aims to equip learners with skills for a self-reliant and industrialised Malawi. “This reform prepares learners for modern challenges,” he said.
Secondary education will now have four pathways—Social Sciences, Arts and Sports, STEM, and TEVET—while primary teachers must hold at least a diploma.
Implementation will be phased and aligns with the Malawi 2063 vision for a knowledge-based economy.
