The National Education Policy (NEP) is designed to respond to the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II (MGDS II) and various related national education policies including regional and international protocols on education. The policy recognizes that Early Childhood Education (ECD), primary and secondary education is critical foundations to tertiary education. It further recognizes the importance of inclusion of special needs education, out-of-school youth and adult literacy in the education sector. The NEP attempts to define the provision of quality education in a holistic manner through expanded access and equity, improved quality and relevance, and improved governance and management.
The NEP is the Malawi Government’s document that spells out government policy on education. It outlines the sector’s priorities and defines the country’s education policies that will guide the development of the education sector in Malawi. The government recognizes that education is the backbone for socio-economic development, economic growth and a major source of economic empowerment for all people especially women, the youth and the physically challenged. It also has a strong impact on literacy; behaviour in terms of reproductive, maternal and child health; and on knowledge of HIV and AIDS. The policy also subscribes itself to the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) to development, planning and financing of the education sector in line with the Malawi Development Assistance Strategy and Sector Working Group Guidelines