NGOs calls on Malawi government to review education policy
Experts in issues of reproductive health and other non government organisations have called on government to review the current education policy which hinders children in schools to talk of reproductive health issues.
FPAM CEO Thokozani Mbendera, Timothy Mtambo from CHR, Chrispin Sibande from Ipas and Ned Mkumba from CEYCA-pic-by-Lisa-Kadango-Vintulla
Chief Executive Officer for Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM) Thokozani Mbendera said this on Thursday during a meeting with other non government organisation organised by FPAM in conjunction with Norway government.
“In many schools children are not allowed to learn about issues of reproductive health which is very worrisome,” said Mbendera.
FPAM is promoting awareness of reproductive health across the country to ensure a health Malawi.
Mbendera said there is need to review the current education policy among the adolescents in schools in ensuring that they are protected from early marriages, sexual reproductive health and family planning.
He further said his organisation will continue to work hand in hand with government to achieve this goal.
Speaking earlier at the same meeting the visiting Nowergian Member of Parliament Heidi Nordy Lunde said she was impressed with what FPAM is doing on issues of Reproductive Health.
“I am here to appreciate FPAM successes in sexual reproductive health rights, family planning and early marriages programs and am impressed to note that Malawi is doing well,” observed Lunde.
Lunde said a society that was free of poverty where young people, women and men enjoy basic sexual and reproductive health and rights is a health Nation.
She appealed to other organisation to continue sensitising people to the importance of reproductive health issues.
Malawi’s reproductive health programme is part of the joint program for the health sector wide approach.
Representative from other organisations present at the meeting were Timothy Mtambo from CHRR, Chrispine Sibande from Ipas and Ned Mkumba from CEYCA.
The delegation led by the Norwegian MP has so far paid courtesy visits to the First Lady Gertrude Mutharika, Speaker of National Assembly Richard Msowoya, Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume and other NGOs.
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You are seeking policy review to incorporate sexual reproductive issues? Are you serious? Sexual reproductive issues do not belong to schools – they belong to bed and to married people. These NGOs have lost focus on the real issues that undermine education in Malawi. Education policy must be reviewed to repeal the quota system because this is the single most important weak link in Malawi’s education framework. And you want to talk about sexual reproduction? And this will improve education standards in Malawi? AAAAAAaaaaaaaaaa! I’ll continue sending my kids out of the country to get better education. I’ll leave Malawi… Read more »
Until our selfish leaders are required by statute to send their children to government schools, there will never be enough political will to improve our education system. These people have no personal stake in improving it. Indeed, the opposite is true. By keeping the national system ineffective, they are ensuring that their privately and overseas educated children have advantages that will be perpetuated.