Fighting resource scarcity – sustainability in the education system of Malawi – case study of Karonga, Mzimba and Nkhata Bay district

Abstract

Malawi and specifically the Northern Region remains a mostly agricultural and very rural country. Hence, many households rely on agricultural activities, either as smallholder farmers or employees on bigger farms. Furthermore, the Malawian population growth of three per cent per annum is very high, which is why the demand for food and other resources like water or energy increases drastically. As ‘Agriculture’ is a subject within the Malawian curriculum this article focuses on its role and content. The research focuses on the teaching methods and content of the subject. A main focus was put on the way the concept of sustainability is being taught and the areas of sustainability that are being covered. A qualitative methodological approach, combining document analysis, ethnographical research and fourteen semi-structured interviews with teachers at public secondary schools in the Northern Region provided an in-depth insight into how the concept of sustainability is being grasped and taught. The importance and chances of teaching ‘Agriculture’ as a subject became visible, while at the same time many general and subject-specific obstacles remain and partly diminish the positive effects of the subject. Teachers are aware of the concept of sustainability, without necessarily being familiar with the terminology ‘sustainability’.

Keywords:

• Sustainability
• ‘Agriculture’ as subject
• secondary schools
• educational research
• qualitative research

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the participating teachers at the involved schools in Karonga, Mzimba and Nkhata Bay district and to the Department of Education, Northern Education Divison in Malawi for their support. Thanks to Prof. Dr. Andreas Dittmann (Department of Human Geography and Development Research, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen), MSc. Martin Wiesmaier (ZEU) and Joshua Kumwenda (Mzuzu University) for their help in bringing this study to fruition. The conclusions reached are solely those of the authors.

Notes

1. ‘Exposure to contingencies and stress, and difficulty in coping with them. Vulnerability has thus two sides: an external side of risks, shocks and stress to which an individual or household is subject; and an internal side which is defencelessness, meaning a lack of means to cope without damaging loss’ (Chambers, 1989, p. 1).

2. All interviews were slightly edited regarding formulations or repeating of words to ensure a better reading of these interviews.