Early childhood education is of utmost importance in a child's life because the first years of a child’s life set the stage for all future growth and development. Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) plays an integral part in basic education and represents the first essential step for a child’s future. A child’s future personality is largely determined by the learning capacity and value orientation of their first five years. It enhances a child’s preparedness for mainstream education and positively influences their future academic achievement. Most pre-schools in Malawi are located in urban areas. Pre-school education in Malawi officially lasts 2 years, from the age of three to five.
Pre-school education
- Ages : 3-5
- Primary Languages : English
- Terms : 3 terms
- Admission : Beginning of the term- January
- School Types: pre-school, nursery school, and more
The pre-school curriculum focuses on the 7 domains of early childhood namely Language, Cognitive, Gross Motor Skills, Fine Motor Skills, Self Help or Adaptive skills, Social and Emotional, and Spiritual and Moral skills. These can be best explained as follows:
Language- this involves learning how to speak, how to read letters from left to right, the importance of reading and writing, how to use a pencil, and Listening, to mention but a few.
Cognitive- this encompasses the way children learn about their world, learn to think and reason, and how to solve problems.
Gross motor skills- this teaches children how to use their different muscles in different ways. To enable this, children are allowed space and time to exercise and practice skills outdoors. Teachers here use games and activities that enable muscle movement.
Fine Motor Skills- this entails teaching children how to use their small muscles to be able to handle things, these are essential in learning how to write, how to feed and dress themselves, and eye-hand coordination, to mention but a few.
Self Help and Adaptive- Adaptive and self-help skills are of extreme importance in fostering independence and confidence in a child. Children need to develop confidence in their ability and to be self-reliant in doing things.
Social and Emotional- Social development is about how the child gets along with other people in the family and the society at large and Emotional development relates to a child’s feelings about themselves and other people in their lives and the environment they live in. children, in this case, are taught in areas including Developing basic trust in other people and things, Self Esteem, Getting Along with Others and Making Friends, Self-control and Independence, Expressing Feelings, to mention but a few.
Spiritual and Moral- Moral development is mostly about knowing what is right and wrong and being able to make the right choices and Spiritual development is about searching for meaning in life mainly through believing in a higher power. (e.g God, Allah, and others). this helps children to value cultural and religious differences in other people.
Examples of pre-schools in Malawi.
Let's take a brief look at some pre-schools in Malawi where children of foreigners or expatriates can enroll.
Acacia International School
This is an international school located in Lilongwe, Malawi. The school offers a British curriculum from The Early Years Foundation Stage to key stage 2. The Early Years Foundation Stage sets the standards for the learning, development, and care of children from birth to the age of 5, and Key Stages 1 and 2 are for students between the ages of 5 and 11 years. The school offers an ideal environment with small class sizes, qualified and experienced teachers, a worldwide recognized and trusted curriculum, and high-quality resources.
- Established: 2010
- Address: P.O Box 370, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Level: Early Years Foundation Stage to KS2
- Language: English
- International student representation: 20+ nations
- Admission Term: the beginning of the term
- Terms: 3
The school offers child-centered learning, and encourages individuality, and offers differentiated instruction, with Individual learning styles and inclusive education. This aims at aims to improve a child's academic performance and contribute to their overall development and self-confidence
Hillview International School
This is an international school located in Limbe that offers education based on the English curriculum. The school offers two early childhood centers namely Pixie Glen Pre-nursery School, for children 2 to 3 years old, and Happy Days Nursery School for three to 4-year-olds. These nurseries offer a happy and safe environment where children can thrive and are allowed to develop their personalities while being guided in emotional and social skills.
Happy days nursery school
- Adress: Hetherwick Road, Limbe, Malawi
- established: 1950
- pre-school students: 30+
- academic system: British, International
- pre-school curriculum: Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- Teaching languages: English, French
- Fee: MWK 760 000 (Happy Days) or MWK 650 000 (Pixie Glen) per term.
- Opening hours: 8:00am to 11:30am
- School calendar starts: September
Happy Days is a nursery school for 3 to 4-year olds that prepares them to enter the Reception class at Hillview. The school day here is well structured and the children practice pre-reading, pre-writing, and pre-number skills. Thes school has a dedicated playground filled with a variety of apparatus that encourages play and physical development. The children have access to teachers for Music, Singing, Music and Movement, and French. They also have access to facilities such as Computer labs, swimming pools, and Sports grounds.
The school incorporates a wide range of activities including P.E, Music, Music and Movement, Computers, Science, French, Swimming, Bakerman, or Bakerlady where children take turns to bring their home-baked treats to share with the class, and Cooking whee the children cook or bake together.
Tuition and fees
The following are payable as fees at Happy days nursery school.
MWK 760 000 -Happy Days Nursery or MWK 650 000 for Pixie Glen pre-nursery per term.
Once-off registration fee - MWK150 000
Happy Trails Preschool
This is a Montessori preschool aimed at helping children between 18months to 5years to develop an excellent foundation for creative learning. learning here is a blend of the Montessori and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Learning here is also tailor-made and focused on the needs of each child, with designated one-on-one time with the teachers who Identify areas of strength and areas to improve.
- location: Plot 3/634 Area 3 Lilongwe
- pre-school curriculum: Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- Teaching languages: English
- Teacher-student ratio: 1:5
- fees: K 300 000 - K 345 000 per term
- Opening hours: Mon – Fri from 7:30 – 2:00
The school is divided into different age groups as follows:
- Baby Class: 18 months-2 years
- Toddler Class: 2- 3 years
- Pre-Reception: 3- 4 years
- Reception: 4- 5 years
Tuition and fees
Parents should expect to pay the following as fees:
A Once off fee of K 20 000 for all new enrollments.
Baby Class: K 300 000 per term
Toddler Class: K 315 000 per term
Pre-Reception: K 330 000 per term
Reception: K 345 000 per term
Note that admission spaces here are limited and the school only accepts 10-15 children for each class.
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