The Ministry of Gender is set to roll out the Adult Literacy and Education Management Information System (ALEMIS), aiming to empower orphaned and vulnerable children who have been deprived of formal education, steering them towards self-reliance.
Pauline Kaude, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, disclosed plans to implement ALEMIS across three districts, enlisting the expertise of Information technology professionals to ensure streamlined service delivery.
DVV International’s 2022 contribution of K24 million worth of ICT equipment has set the stage for advancing the management information system for adult learning and education, alongside integrated adult education, in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare.
Kaude underscored the imperative need for customisation, disclosing that the technology’s default settings were unsuitable for the Malawian environment.
“The system was hosted by an international company, we are in the process of transferring it to be hosted by the ministry,” she said.
The ministry’s official communication emphasised ALEMIS as a crucial component of its Community Development Branch, dedicated to reducing illiteracy, enhancing skills development, and providing education opportunities for beneficiaries aged 15 and above.
Child Rights Activist, Amos Chibwana, passionately advocated for collaboration with the Ministry of Education, urging the engagement of professional tutors.
According to Chibwana, it is important to extend the educational initiative to primary-school children to alleviate the plight of street-connected children.
“This should have happened long ago, but we should commend the government for the effort, perhaps the children in our towns will be self-reliant,” Chibwana said.
Responding to the call, Secretary for Education, Chikondano Mussa, expressed support, tying it to the existing Complimentary Basic Education Programme.
The programme compressed, formal education into a four-year curriculum, emphasizing technical and entrepreneurial education for financially challenged individuals.
Mussa underscored the importance of curriculum alignment with ALEMIS, stressing the collaborative efforts between the Education and Gender Ministries to achieve the common goal of education.
“What is needed is for us to develop a curriculum in line with the ALEMIS. Working together with the Gender Ministry means we are working towards the same goal, educating the masses,” She said.
Concurrently, the non-governmental organisation “Tingathe,” dedicated to socio-economic development and vocational skills training for illiterate individuals, is seeking partnerships to expand its impact.
The organisation aims to equip people with skills, independence, and leadership capabilities by 2024, aligning its vision with the Government’s initiatives.
Tingathe’s spokesperson, Martin Mbewe, emphasizes the organisation’s commitment to rescuing people from poverty through vocational and life skills training.
Mbewe acknowledges the need for substantial resources to achieve this ambitious goal, echoing the sentiment of collaboration and shared objectives with the government’s strategic plans.
“We want to help the people to attain self – independence and have leadership skills,” Mbewe said.
“So providing such a feat requires a lot of resources.”
