By Ivy Tunkete Mwanyongo
In a collective initiative, a Consortium comprising multiple Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) has rallied together to implore the government to take decisive action towards decolonizing Education Financing.
The Consortium spearheaded by the Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) and the Forum for African Women Educationalists in Malawi (FAWEMA), aims to address the persistent challenges rocking the education sector in the country.
Speaking during an interface meeting at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe, CSEC Programs Manager Kisa Kumwenda said, the call is in line with this year’s Global Action Week for Education (GAWE) theme; “A call to investing in a just World: Decolonizing Education Financing now!”
Kumwenda said there is a need to analyze the investments by developing partners in the education sector, if they align to the key priorities as far as the country’s needs are concerned.
“As part of commemorating the Global Action Education Week, we thought of inviting the government together with developing partners and look at what kind of investments are developing partners bringing in our country and how they align those investments to the country’s priorities” he said.
He added that, “The government should also act on the removal of existing austerity measures by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and other international financial institutions such as, public sector wage constraints that discourage increased spending on teachers’ salaries”.
Advocacy and Communications Officer at Ray of Hope Pamodzi Project, Dailes Banda hinted that poor funding continues to choke efforts responding to inclusive education.
Banda argues that in the 2023/24 budget allocation for the education sector, there is no mention of inclusive education, hence the need for the government to consider a special percentage of funds for the same.
“I believe that with the issue of decolonization, the nation will be able to prioritize key issues that matter in the education sector, even when using donor funds. Allocating 5 percent of the money towards inclusive education, would assist to see its desired fruits”, said Banda.
The CSOs have since hinted that there is an urgent need to demand a massive scaling up of education financing, ensuring that it is accountable and reaches the most marginalized and ensuring that resources are used to strengthen the effective delivery of quality and equitable inclusive education for all.
