Project

Project

In the Republic of Malawi, located in Sub-Saharan Africa, the JICA Kusanone (Grassroots) Technical Cooperation Project "Improving Access and Quality of Pre-primary Education in Rural Malawi" is being implemented. The implementing period is from March 2023 to February 2026.

Background

Access to pre-primary education in Malawi is very low: only about 48.7% of 3-5 year olds have access to pre-primary education (as of 2018). There are no caregiver training facilities. Therefore, to improve the quality of preschool education, the Ministry of Gender, Community, Disability, and Social Welfare and donors provide training to caregivers. However, only 47.3% of child care providers have received training (as of 2021).
In addition, the primary education net enrollment rate has reached 88%, but the retention and dropout rates are very high. The retention rate is 25% for all grades and 34% for grade 1 students. The dropout rate is 15% for all grades and 25% for grade 1 students.

Aim

To improve access to pre-primary education in the target area through grappling with quality improvement

Target

Activity

  1. The practical book for caregivers is developed and utilized.
  2. The district officers acquire skills for training caregivers and teachers. The district officers train caregivers and teachers.
  3. The monitoring system in the district office is enhanced.
  4. The enlightenment activities for pre-primary education among local people are implemented.

Activity report

Materials

Reference

Presentation

  1. Educational Practices in Pre-primary Education in Malawi: Focusing on the Voluntary Activities of Caregivers. Japan Comparative Education Society, The 60th Annual Conference, June 28-30, 2024.
  2. Do late entry and grade repetition help to improve academic achievement? Evidence from Malawi, Ghana, and Uganda. Comparative and International Education Society Annual Conference 2023. Miami, U.S.A. and Online. March 10th- 14th, 2024.
  3. School Management in Community-Based Childcare Centres in Malawi: Focusing on Unpaid Volunteer Caregivers. Japan Comparative Education Society, The 59th Annual Conference, June 17-18, 2023.
  4. Establishment History and Expansion of Community-Based Childcare Centres in Malawi. Japan Association for African Studies, The 60th Annual Conference, May 13-14, 2023.
  5. Improving Access to and Quality of Pre-primary Education in Rural Malawi: An Introduction to the Project. March 16, 2022.
  6. Improving Access to and Quality of Pre-primary Education in Rural Malawi: Towards Implementation of the Project. November 21, 2022.
  7. Toward the Dissemination of Pre-primary Education to the Poor in Rural Malawi. April 18, 2021.
  8. An Empirical Analysis of Students in Primary Schools in Malawi: Recommendations for Pre-primary Education. March 15, 2021.

Publication

  1. Taniguchi, K. (2022). The impact of pre-primary education on primary student achievement: evidence from SACMEQ III.
  2. Taniguchi, K. (2020). Long-Term Effects of Preprimary Education on Cognitive Development: Evidence from PISA-D Participating Countries.
  3. IEA Policy Brief (2013) Is participation in preschool education associated with higher student achievement?

Others