UNESCO donates K23m to Malawi for printing of teaching, learning materials

South Korean National Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has donated US$40,000 (about MK23 million) towards printing of teaching and learning materials for adult literacy classes.

Minister of GenderPatricia Kaliati symbolically receives donation of 40000 from the Secretary General of Korea National Commision for UNESCOMr.Dong-seok Min - Pic by Stanley Makuti 2
Minister of GenderPatricia Kaliati symbolically receives donation of 40000 from the Secretary General of Korea National Commision for UNESCOMr.Dong-seok Min – Pic by Stanley Makuti 2

UNESCO presented the donation Friday during the Bridge Writing Festival Award and Fund Handover ceremony at Mwera Community Centre in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Malili in Lilongwe.

Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati, said Malawi government is very appreciative of the support.

“This gesture cements the cordial relationship that exists between Malawi and South Korea and between the peoples of the two countries,” said Kaliati.

She said government is also very appreciative of the commendable work the Korean National Commission for UNESCO is doing through the Community Learning Centres such as the one at Group Village Head Mwera.

Kaliati said the work of the young Korean volunteers who have been coming to Malawi since 2010 has been very commendable.

“The young Koreans have brought positive changes in the communities they lived and worked with.  Community members from Namiyango in Blantyre, Naphini in Zomba and here at Mwera will agree with me and can testify to this. We trust that such cooperation will continue.   ,” she explained.

She said Malawi’s illiteracy rate stands at 36 percent and this has a negative impact on government’s efforts to eliminate poverty.

Kaliati cited inadequate teaching and learning materials has been a big challenge for the Ministry because of financial constraints.

She said what is particularly impressive about the support from Korean Government is that apart from providing material support such as the buildings, teaching and learning materials the Bridge project is actively involved in capacity building and strengthening of the community leaders, and the training of teaching staff.

Dong-Seok Min, Secretary General of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO said their organization believes that the only way to eradicate the vicious circle of the extreme poverty is education.

“Education is indeed a vital component in determining the future of a country, so there is no doubt about the need for strong cooperation and solidarity among the Government of Malawi, the Malawi National Commission for UNESCO and the Korean National Commission for UNESCO in this regard,” said Min.

He said this is the reason the two governments have signed the partnership agreement for bridge literacy textbook project.

Min said is expecting that 5, 000 learners from 90 community learning centres in the country will benefit from the fund by receiving 19, 000 newly printed textbooks and that the fund will also be used for training workshops for literacy education instructors so that they can offer quality education.

Fayina Sitifano student of Mwera Community Centre said she was very grateful with the donation as it will go a long way for their benefit.

“I started attended the classes in January, 2015, by then I could not read anything, even my name I could not write but now am able to read and write because of the coming of adult literacy education in our area,” said Sitifano.

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The real ujeni
The real ujeni
8 years ago

Is Kaliati multi purpose minister? Minister of foreign Affairs. minister of Gender, Minister of Sports and today Minister of Education and all she does is to receive cheques, or attend a dinner party, or escorting Mutharika abroad. Does she know her ministry duties?

ngoma
8 years ago

bola money kuigwiritsa nchito bwinobwino osaononga ayi

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