Honourable Dr. Bright Msaka SC, Minister of Education, Science and Technology,  Government of Malawi 

Honourable Ministers from other countries in Africa

Dr. Ken Ndala, Principal Secretary, MoEST Malawi 

Mr. Sanjay Kumar, former Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India 

Dr. Penelope  Campbell, Representative for UNICEF Malawi 

Senior Representatives of UNICEF

Members from Press & Media

Distinguished participants,

Good Morning. Mazuka bwanji, Namaste !

 It is indeed a great pleasure for me to be here with you today to  participate in this PRE-FLEX Event ‘Building Foundations for Learning: Lessons for Africa and Learning for India’ and exchange views on strengthening primary education in Malawi. Education is the foundation of national development, and the quality of a country's primary education system determines the future of its human capital.

As we all are aware the United Nations’  adopted the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Goals in 2015 to improve socio-economic and environmental indicators.   Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) aims to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." Recognizing education as the foundation for sustainable development and key driver for economic growth and Viksit Bharat 2047 vision,  India has made great strides in improving access to quality education and made remarkable progress in this endevour.  Government of India  through active participation of all stakeholders such as  NGOs, private actors, governments and teacher training institutions has transformed school education into a more inclusive, equitable and child-friendly.

We all are here to witness the discussions on  pre-school learning subject  underlining the fact that Foundational learning is the cornerstone upon which lifelong learning is built.  Having a strong foundation  is applicable in all aspects of our lives whether you are building a career, a relationship or personal resilience,  strong foundation ensures the longevity and  allow us to reach even the most unthinkable  heights. 

I am delighted to underscore that Government of India took a landmark initiative  in 2021 for strengthening foundational learning through launching  the NIPUN Bharat Mission (National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy) under the National Education Policy 2020. Its  goal is to ensure universal Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) for every child by the end of Grade 3.  It is not that India never had pre-primary classes before, but they were not part of  the policy. NEP 2020 has made them as a part of policy and changed the whole education structure of schooling in India. In the same time Government of India also ensured to bring the all stakeholders at the same platform to achieve the desired goals with the spirit that No child should be out of school  and all children can read and do basic maths.  Due to Government’s holistic and focused approach, the latest national assessment survey under  PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, indeed shows that government schools now perform better than private schools in several states. This is indeed a good sign that our new policy  is working  well and yielding positive results. 

Apart from the above initiatives, India had taken several other initiatives to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent children from attending school esp. through  Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act), which guarantees free and compulsory education for every child between the ages of 6 and 14 years.  Recognizing that financial constraints often prevent children from attending school, India provides free textbooks, uniforms, bicycles/scooties and learning materials to eligible students, particularly those from economically weaker and disadvantaged communities. These measures reduce the financial burden on families and encourage regular attendance.

Another important initiative has been the PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) Scheme, formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. By providing nutritious cooked meals in government and government-aided schools, the programme has significantly improved enrollment, attendance, child health, classroom concentration, and retention while addressing child nutrition.

Honourable Ministers & distinguished guests,

The Government of India also augmented school infrastructure, teacher training, digital education, inclusive education for children with special needs and improvements in learning outcomes under the Samagra Shiksha programme. India has also focused on ensuring that every child has access to a school within a reasonable distance of home. Continuous investment in classrooms, and basic amenities such as drinking water facilities, separate toilets for girls and boys, playgrounds, and digital learning facilities  created a more conducive learning environment. The construction of separate toilets for girls was proved a game changer esp. in  improving attendance and reducing dropout rates among adolescent girls.

Teacher training and capacity building has been another major priority for Government to improve and maintain the quality and standard of education.  Community participation  has been encouraged through School Management Committees, consisting of parents, teachers and local community representatives, actively participate in school governance, monitor school functioning, and help improve accountability. This partnership between schools and communities has strengthened ownership of education at the grassroots level.

India's experience demonstrates that improving primary education requires a comprehensive approach combining policy reforms, adequate financing, community engagement, teacher empowerment, nutrition support, and continuous monitoring of learning outcomes.

India and Malawi enjoy warm and longstanding relations, and education has always been an important pillar of our partnership. Through initiatives such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, ICCR scholarships, capacity-building programmes, and educational exchanges, India remains committed to supporting Malawi's human capital development.

India and Malawi, along with our partners across the Global South, share a common aspiration — to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to quality education that equips them with the skills, confidence, and values needed to thrive in the 21st century. Today’s consultation highlighted the importance of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and mutual learning in advancing this shared vision.

India reaffirms its commitment to working with Malawi and partners in the Global South to ensure that foundational learning becomes a universal right, not a privilege. Together, we can build a future where every child has the tools to dream, to achieve, and to lead.

I hope today's discussion will provide an opportunity to identify best practices to ensure that every child receives quality primary education and the opportunity to realise his or her full potential.

On behalf of the Government of India, I extend heartfelt appreciation to the Government of Malawi, UNICEF and all participants for their dedication and thoughtful contributions to this learning exchange. May the spirit of South-South Cooperation continue to guide us as we strive for inclusive, equitable, and transformative education.

Thank you Zikomo Kwambiri Jai Hind Jai Bharat !