Malawi’s government has announced that major fees in public secondary schools will be abolished from 1 January 2026 as part of efforts to widen access to education.
The Ministry of Education said examination and identification charges imposed by the Malawi National Examination Board, as well as School Development Fund levies and other user fees in public day secondary schools, have been eliminated. As a result, students in these schools will no longer be required to pay any fees.
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The Secretary for Education, Ken Ndala, explained that the initiative is intended to strengthen human capital development in line with the country’s long-term development agenda, Malawi 2063. He said free secondary education would make a significant contribution to building the nation’s human resources.
Under the new arrangement, boarding public secondary schools will continue to charge boarding fees, while private secondary schools will retain their existing fee structures. Grant-aided schools affiliated with the Association of Christian Educators in Malawi will only collect boarding fees, with government grants covering other expenses.
The ministry disclosed that funds have already been disbursed to schools ahead of the second term resumption on 5 January, with further allocations expected later in the month. Plans are also underway to recruit additional teachers during the 2026/27 financial year to support the expanded system.
Malawi has historically faced challenges such as low secondary school enrolment, high dropout rates and limited educational resources. Although primary education became free in 1994, the cost of secondary schooling has continued to exclude many families.
Education experts warn that overcrowded classrooms, shortages of qualified teachers and inadequate infrastructure could undermine the reform’s impact unless addressed.
