DFID Malawi’s new education programme aims to help more Malawian girls and boys progress through the education system and achieve better learning outcomes, thereby contributing to social and economic development. A core component of this work is focused on supporting the Malawi Government to improve the quality of early grade mathematics teaching, so all children are supported to learn and master the basics. DFID Malawi intends to work with suppliers who are committed to improving the quality education in Malawi and strengthening government systems for long lasting sustainability.

(please note EME and PIN previously published as PO8419).

DFID Malawi’s new education programme aims to help more Malawian girls and boys progress through the education system and achieve better learning outcomes, thereby contributing to social and economic development. A core component of this work is focused on supporting the Malawi Government to improve the quality of early grade mathematics teaching, so all children are supported to learn and master the basics. DFID Malawi intends to work with suppliers who are committed to improving the quality education in Malawi and strengthening government systems for long lasting sustainability.

This programme aims to improve student learning outcomes in mathematics, so girls and boys have a solid foundation in basic skills to succeed in the rest of their schooling and fulfil their potential. By the end of the programme we hope this will contribute towards improved service delivery, so more girls and boys,especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, progress through and complete primary school with measurable improvements in their learning outcomes. This component is part of a larger education programme. Other components include:

(i) strengthening Malawi’s education system by providing technical assistance to district councils to ensure they have the finance and human resource capacity to oversee primary schools and teachers;

(ii) improving the availability and use of education data for evidence based policy and planning; and

(iii) making the education system more equitable, by providing targeted support to marginalised girls to support them to finish primary school with improved learning outcomes and transition to secondary school.

The supplier will provide technical assistance to facilitate the revision of the mathematics curriculum for lower primary (standards 1-4), develop corresponding teaching and learning materials, design teacher training strategies (including school-based support structures), rigorously pilot the new materials and training strategies, document impact, refine the materials and training strategies, and then oversee the national scale-up.