Blantyre to roll out Complementary Basic Education programme
District Education Manager (DEM) for Blantyre Rural responsible for primary education, Paul Chiphanda has said the district is expected to roll out a Complementary Basic Education (CBE) programme from September 18 2017.
The two year Ministry of Education, Science and Technology programme is aimed at providing opportunities to pupils who dropped out of primary school before completing standard five to go back to school.
Chiphanda said the ministry noted that people who dropped out before reaching standard five and those who never attended school at all lacked basic literacy, numeracy and life skills necessary for one to lead a productive life in society.
“CBE targets out-of-school children and youth aged between 9 and 17 who must have stayed out of school for a period of one year or more,” said Chiphanda who added that everything is set for the launch of the programme.
He added that they have identified four centers where the programme will be rolled out in earnest besides having in place teachers and learning materials ready for the same.
The education manager therefore encouraged parents to send their children to these centres saying the programme would be meaningless without children.
Under the programme, learners will cover standard 1-4 course work within a space of two years.
Courses for standards one and two will be taught in year one while those of standards three and four will be taught in year two.
“After successfully completing the programme, learners of school going age will be free to join primary school in standard 5 while those of overage can proceed back to their communities to lead productive lives using the skills they will have acquired,” said the DEM.
The programme is implemented in districts that have registered high dropout such as Blantyre, Balaka, Dedza and Salima.
