32 teachers graduate in Blantyre Rural, Malawi.

On 14 May 2005 the first team of students graduated from Humana People to People Teacher Training College, Blantyre Rural in Malawi. They are now ready to take up employment in primary schools in Malawi.

There are 5.000 primary schools in Malawi and 54.000 teachers. Not all of them are qualified. The teacher/student ration is 1/85 in average, but in the rural areas it is often up to 1/120 – meaning 120 students per teacher. The need for qualified teachers, who are willing to work in the rural primary schools, is immense.

32 students have completed a 2-year training at the first Humana People to People teacher training college in Malawi. The college started in July 2003. The students have carried through their academic studies, their teaching practice and their community work, and in the period February to April 2005 they have participated in the examinations arranged by the Ministry of Education in Malawi.

At the Graduation Ceremony on 14 May 2005 the students were congratulated by their parents and relatives, the neighbouring demonstration school represented by children, teachers and headmaster, many other neighbours, friends, colleagues and supporters from other teacher training colleges and the educational sector, the Division and District Departments of Education representatives, and as guest of honour, the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Education, Dr. Simeon Hau.

The students gave entertaining and illustrative examples of lessons to the visitors, showing themselves as eager and forthcoming teachers. They also entertained the function with songs and drama.

The various speakers commended the students for being the pioneer team, all the way through ready to take new steps, meet new challenges and find solutions to any problem that came across. The importance and the quality of the relationship with the surrounding communities was especially underlined by the Chief, T/A Kuntaja, who also took the opportunity to urge the Ministry of Education to post some of the new teachers in his area. The speeches also mentioned the special character of the Humana People to People teacher training concept and the values it adds to the education of teachers in Malawi.

Enjoy the pictures from the graduation in the Media Gallery, Graduation of teachers.

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