CSEC pushes for swift introduction of education levy
Nsapato: These are the reasons children drop out of school
Stakeholders in the education sector are advocating for the swift introduction of an education levy, among other domestic financing strategies, to sustain education activities.
This follows an assessment by the Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) on the 2024-2025 budget performance, which revealed an overreliance on donor funding for key projects and activities in the sector.
Speaking on Wednesday in Lilongwe during an engagement with Members of Parliament, CSEC Board Chairperson Limbani Nsapato described the funding challenges in the education sector as major barriers to Malawi’s progress toward Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on education.
“These are the reasons children drop out of school, why literacy levels remain very low, and why the cycle of poverty persists,” Nsapato said.
He challenged lawmakers to change the narrative by allocating at least 20 percent of this year’s budget to the education sector.
While acknowledging the sector’s funding challenges, Parliamentary Committee on Education Chairperson Brainex Kaise emphasized the need for prudent use of resources to maximize impact.
“After listening to CSEC’s presentation, we have identified several underfunded areas. However, we have also observed that, in some cases, the allocated resources—though inadequate—are not being used for their intended purpose, which must be addressed,” Kaise said.
Members of Parliament, currently working in clusters, are meeting with various stakeholders this week to gather input and analyze the proposed budget estimates before deliberations begin in the chamber next week.
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