The Government of Malawi has taken a major step towards improving access to teacher education by going fully digital in the application process for public Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs). Minister of Higher Education, Dr Jessie Kabwila, announced the development during a public unveiling ceremony held at the Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) in Lilongwe.
Dr Kabwila described the move as a “significant milestone” in the country’s journey towards equitable and quality education. She said that going digital would eliminate bottlenecks, reduce corruption, and ensure that more qualified applicants from remote areas have a fair chance of entering the teaching profession.
“This system is a game-changer. From now on, all applications to public TTCs will be done online. No more travelling long distances or relying on middlemen,” Dr Kabwila declared during the event, which was attended by officials from the Ministry, ICT professionals, teacher education stakeholders, and development partners.
The Minister explained that the platform will not only improve transparency in the selection process but also make it easier for the Ministry to monitor data, ensure gender balance, and track regional representation. She also stated that the system will align with the government’s broader strategy to digitalise public services and improve efficiency in higher education.
According to her, the system was developed in partnership with local ICT experts and has been tested to ensure it is accessible to applicants with basic digital skills, even in rural areas. Efforts are also underway to integrate mobile phone-based applications to cater to areas with low internet penetration.
Dr Kabwila emphasised that teacher education is a top priority for Malawi’s education reforms, especially as the country faces a rising demand for qualified teachers in both primary and secondary schools. She said that improving access to TTCs is key to addressing the teacher shortage and boosting the quality of education at all levels.
“We are aware that a lack of access to quality teacher training has been one of the barriers to education reform. With this online system, we are opening up opportunities for more youths across Malawi to become professionally trained teachers,” she added.
Several key stakeholders welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and aligned with Malawi 2063, the country’s long-term development vision. Representatives from the Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) and the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) also attended the launch, promising their full support for the system.
One of the speakers, Dr. Henry Banda, Director of Teacher Education and Development in the Ministry, said the online application system will help in planning and resource allocation.
“This will allow us to know exactly how many applicants we have, their locations, and their educational backgrounds. This data will help us improve curriculum planning and deployment,” Dr Banda said.
The digital shift comes as Malawi continues to embrace technology in education following lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Education has been rolling out e-learning platforms, blended learning, and remote teaching tools across institutions of higher learning.
The unveiling ceremony also featured live demonstrations of how the online application portal works, with attendees testing the system using laptops and mobile phones. ICT officers explained that the portal is linked to the national education database and can be updated in real-time to reflect admission status, programme choices, and available slots in each TTC.
Officials encouraged applicants and school leavers to begin preparing their documents early and take advantage of the system as the next application window opens. They also assured the public that help desks will be established in all districts to guide prospective applicants and assist those who may face difficulties.
Malawians have responded positively to the news on social media, praising the Ministry for modernising teacher education and creating more opportunities for rural youth.
As Malawi pushes forward with its digital transformation agenda, this move by Minister Kabwila is being viewed as a bold step that could set the tone for reforms in other sectors of higher education.
