The Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture in conjunction with the Directorate of Civic Education are calling for the reinstatement of civics as a stand-alone subject in the country’s curriculum.
The call was made during an engagement meeting with the Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) in Zomba.
Principal Secretary for Unity in the Ministry, Dr Elizabeth Gomani Chindebvu said through the subject, leaners will be able to relate with others and gain skills in public resources management.
“The Civics subject will inculcate issues of transparency and accountability in our young ones. They will also be able to come up with vibrant developmental plans in terms of infrastructure,” she said.
Chindebvu added that they believe the subject will help leaners to be development conscious and they will put it into practice as they grow in line with the Malawi 2063 vision.
Executive Director for MIE, Dr Fritz Kadyoma said as an institute responsible for the development of school curriculums, they are willing to listen to what the public has to say.
“In terms of policy, the Ministry holds the power to modify the curriculum so that the subject can be accommodated. MIE is just an implementer, and we are ready to do as advised,” Dr Kadyoma said.
Civics was a subject taught during Dr Kamuzu Banda’s era and was later abolished and currently, most lessons are packaged in Social and Development Studies.