The Caregiver Homeschooling Instruction Program: Mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on literacy in Malawi

Between the mid-2000’s and early 2020, Malawi greatly improved access to education, reaching a net primary school enrolment rate of over 90%. The dropout rate for primary education has also improved significantly from 11.7% in 2009 to 3.2% in 2018. However, retention remains a challenge, with a primary school completion rate of 52% and repetition rate of 24.5%. Challenges with education quality also remain.

A national assessment of student performance (2015) showed that mean language scores for male and female students in Grade 4 were 25% or lower- far below minimum national standards. School closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have compounded these challenges.

World Vision implements education activities in over 300 primary schools and 950 early childhood development centres across Malawi’s north, central and southern regions; supporting more than 306,000 girls and boys between the ages of three and nine. To address the additional challenges of COVID-19, we adapted our traditional literacy programming, developing the Caregiver Homeschooling Instruction Program. The intervention sought to strengthen the capacity of caregivers to lead their children’s education. The initiative further leveraged national efforts, while building on World Vision's existing literacy programs and ensuring personalised interaction between families, teachers, and volunteers.

Download this publication to discover the impact of this program.