Malawi govt urged to introduce Muslim-friendly education calendar

A local rights group, the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) is pushing authorities in Malawi’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to introduce a new educational calendar which will ensure that Muslim learners do not miss afternoon classes.

Coordinator of strengthen Learn Without Fear project under the CHRR Stain Katuli raised the concerns during a meeting with Karonga Muslim Education Welfare and the district’s education authorities in northern district of Karonga.

Malawi’s Muslim clerks have long been complaining that some Muslim pupils perform poorly during examinations due to missing out of classes in the afternoon when they attend madrassa classes and daily afternoon prayers.

They have been asking the government to provide a conducive learning environment to Muslim students.

According to the story monitored on the country’s only Islamic radio station, Radio Islam Katuli promised that his project will fight for the environment which ensures that Muslims have equal access of attending all lessons.

“We are aware that every child has the right to education regardless of religious affiliation. So it’s high time the government reconsider its school calendar so that no Muslim student should miss studies,” he said.

This comes few days after Muslims in the muslim-dominated southern district of Mangochi stormed the district’s education manager’s offices demanding the transfer of the primary education adviser Muwake Chauluka they accused of failing to provide conducive learning environment for Muslim students.

Chauluka was also accused of insulting Muslims in the district for the uneducated. They gave him 48 hours to leave the district.

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