The project which is implemented by the Malawi Government and funded by the World Bank, aims at improving the quality of Mathematics and Science instruction and increase access to secondary education in Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSSs).

The Polytechnic team led by Dr Florence Thomo conducted a three days training from 19 -21 April, 2021 at the St Lawrence Catholic Secondary School.

According to Dr Florence Thomo the project has three components, which university lecturers are involved in teaching the secondary school teachers in improving the content and the methodology to their students.

“We conducted a baseline survey last year, which has helped us identify the challenges they face and how we can help to eradicate them through activities we have outlined,” said Dr Thomo.

Ulemu Chimimba a lecturer in the Physics and Biochemical Sciences Department explained that the exercise was well patronized, it provided the much-needed platform where secondary school science teachers got a chance to interact with university science lecturers on how best they can deliver science lessons to their students in a manner that focuses on learner engagement.

“The major challenge was the inadequate materials for the practical demonstrations which made it difficult to demonstrate in a particular subject area, but overall, the exercise went on well,” Chimimba said.

One of the participants from St Monica Community Day Secondary School Henry Lusangasi explained that the training has been very helpful because it has given them an insight on how best they can teach their students. Previously they were finding it difficult to disseminate information properly to the students with the mathematical and scientific jargons in the syllabus.