African Education Law (Law/Education crossover) | 07 October 2004
The Integration of Education for Sustainable Development in Malawi's National Curricula: A Landscape Analysis
C, h, i, l, u, f, y, a, K, a, l, a, l, a
Abstract
{ "background": "Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a recognised pedagogical approach aimed at fostering environmental awareness and sustainability in education systems globally. In Malawi, integrating ESD into national curricula has been a strategic initiative to enhance educational outcomes aligned with sustainable development goals.", "purposeandobjectives": "This study aims to analyse the current state of ESD integration within Malawi’s national curricula across all levels from primary through secondary education. The objectives are to identify the extent and nature of ESD content, assess the alignment between curriculum frameworks and ESD principles, and evaluate teacher perceptions regarding ESD implementation.", "methodology": "A mixed-methods approach was employed for this research involving a comprehensive review of national curricula documents, surveys of educators, and case studies in selected schools. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics to measure the proportion of ESD content across subject areas, while thematic analysis was applied to educator survey responses.", "findings": "The findings indicate that while there is increasing attention towards ESD within Malawi’s national curricula, a significant gap remains regarding comprehensive coverage and teacher preparedness for integrating these principles into their teaching practices. Specifically, the proportion of subjects with explicit ESD content ranges from 20% at primary level to 45% in secondary education.", "conclusion": "Despite notable progress, there is room for improvement in ensuring that all levels of Malawi’s national curricula adequately incorporate ESD principles and provide teachers with adequate support to facilitate such integration effectively.", "recommendations": "The Ministry of Education should prioritise revising existing curricula documents to include more explicit references to ESD content. Additionally, targeted training programmes should be developed for educators to enhance their skills in teaching sustainable development concepts within the classroom environment.", "keywords": "Education for Sustainable Development, Malawi National Curricula, Curriculum Integration, Teacher Preparedness", "contribution_statement": "This study provides a detailed landscape analysis of ESD integration across all levels of Malawi’s national curricula, offering