Most children in Malawi start formal education at primary school at the age of six. The primary school takes 8 years from Standard 1 to 8. To complete primary education, students have to take the Primary School Leaving Certificate examinations. These will determine admission into secondary school.
- Age : 6-13 years
- Grade : standard 1 to 8
- Duration of study : 8 years
- Primary Languages : English
- Terms : 3 terms
Examples of primary schools in Malawi
Bishop Mackenzie International School- this is an English-medium private, non-profit coeducational day school based in Lilongwe, Malawi. It offers education for primary students and secondary students (reception to year 13.
- Established: 1944
- Location: Lilongwe, Malawi
- Levels: K-12
- Students population: 700
- International representation:50 nations
- Student-teacher ratio: 1:11
- Type: Private non-profit
Accreditation: The Council of International Schools (CIS) and The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Ranking: #1- Country rank, # 43-Regional rank
The school offers the primary years program of the International Baccalaureate, which is an international, multidisciplinary program aimed at fostering the development of students holistically, encompassing social, physical emotional, and cultural needs, and academic welfare,
Lower primary school here is in three levels namely Reception, Year 1, and Year 2. The school has specialist teachers for Music, Art, Physical Education, and Educational Support. The school also provides a secure learning environment in which the individual is valued and respected and can thrive. The children are taught to be active learners who can make choices and decisions, Use materials in flexible and imaginative ways, Initiate inquiry and ask questions, Sustain their interests and extend their knowledge, and develop an understanding of concepts, to mention but a few.
Facilities- the school has a variety of facilities including two sports fields, two basketball courts, a swimming pool complex comprising an 18-meter pool, 25-meter pool, an infant splash pool, classrooms, specialized rooms for art, music, reading, or ICT, and a library.
Tuition and fees
The school offers a 2 tier fee structure, one fr tax payers and the other for non-tax payers. Non-tax payer Fees are as follows:
an annual registration fee per student- $100
refundable book deposit per student - $50
Section Tax-Payer Non-Tax-Payer
Primary $ 9 945 or MK 7 339 410 $ 16 434 or MK 12 128 292
detaiils Tax-Payer Non-Tax Payer
Infrastructure development fund contribution (first child) $1 000 $2 000
Infrastructure development fund contribution (2nd child+ )$500 $1 000
Enrolment refundable deposit (30 days' notice of withdrawal before next invoicing date) $1 500 $ 2 500
extracurricular activities- the school offers a wide range of activities including swimming, football, basketball, rugby, hockey, tennis, karate, table tennis, ballet, chess, and photo club, to mention but a few.
Hillview International School
This is an international school located in Limbe that offers education based on the English curriculum. The school has a Primary School which offers a mix of modern and traditional spacious and well-equipped classrooms and focuses on developing the students holistically through a wide range of learning and extracurricular activities.
Primary school
- Adress: Hetherwick Road, Limbe, Malawi
- established: 1950
- levels: Key stage 1 and 2
- pre-school students: 170+
- academic system: British, International
- Teaching languages: English, French
- Fee: MWK 2 030 per term.
- School calendar starts: September
Curriculum- the school offers an extensive curriculum with a variety of subjects as follows:
Reception- Mathematics, English, Art, Computing and ICT, Music, and PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, and Economic education)
Year 1- Mathematics, English, Science, French, History, Geography, Art, Computing, and ICT, Music
And PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education).
Year 2- Mathematics, English, Science, French, History, Geography, Art, Computing and ICT, and Music
Year 3- Mathematics, English, Science, French, History, Geography, Art, Computing, and ICT, Music
And PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education).
Year 4- Mathematics, English, Science, French, History, Geography, Art, Computing and ICT, and Music
Year 5 art- Kensuke's Kingdom, Katsushika Hokusai's-The great wave of Kanagawa, Drawing, Painting, and Proportion.
Year 6 art- History of Art, Famous artists, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt, Renoir, The Renaissance, Painting (The Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s Cherubs), Sculpture (The David), Self-portraits, and Sketching (Da Vinci’s sketches).
Upon completion of year 6, students will sit for the Cambridge Primary Checkpoint tests for English, Mathematics, and Science.
The school aims to focus on the holistic development of students and hence offer a variety of activities for students. These include Sports and Outdoor Activities, Afternoon clubs, Rotary EarlyAct Club, Drama, and performing arts, and Junior Award Scheme for Schools.
St. Andrew's International Primary School (SAIPS)
This is an international, non-profit, coeducational day school offering a balanced education to children aged 2 to 12. The School follows the enhanced National Curriculum for England.
- Address: Joaquim Chissano Road, Brereton, Blantyre, Malawi
- Established: 1938
- Student population: 390+
- Primary fees range: US$ 3 000- US$ 5 386
- Terms: 3
- accreditation: council of British International Schools (COBIS)
the school offers a diverse curriculum with learning opportunities that expand the students’ horizons and provide them with the necessary skillset that they will need to face future challenges and experiences.
Tuition and fees
Tuition Malawi Tax-Payers Non Tax-Payers
Pre-Nursery US$ 1 415 US$ 2 037
Nursery US$ 1 415 US$ 2 037
Rec-Year 6 US$ 3 000 US$ 5 386
Sir Harry Johnston International Primary School (SHJ)
This is A British International School offering education for students from Pre-Nursery to Year 11. The school aims to provide an exciting and relevant curriculum, supported by dynamic teaching and resourcing, which will enable all students to fulfill their potential, skills, and knowledge relevant for future challenges. It also aims to develop independent thinkers, compassionate and active influencers. The primary school section here was established in 1959.
- Address: Kalimbuka Road, Zomba, Malawi
- established: 1959
- students: 220+
- international representation: 20+ nationalities
- academic system: British, International
- language: English
- School calendar starts: September
Curriculum- the school offers a tailor-made curriculum where students enjoy cross-curricular learning with topics such as Our Local Environment, Great leaders, Water, Ancient Egypt, and Food, to mention but a few.
Facilities- students can use various facilities such as fully-equipped classrooms, a multi-purpose hall, ICT equipment including laptops with internet access, a twenty-meter swimming pool, two 7-a-side football pitches, a netball field, a basketball court, a nursery playground, and a cross country track.
Sports- the school also encourages students to participate in sporting activities competitively and recreationally. These include athletics, netball, rugby, hockey, football, to mention but a few. The school hosts a variety of galas and sporting tournaments.
Tuition and fees- note the following fees that can be paid by locals or those within Malawi and those paid by foreigners or directly from outside the country.
registration fee - K20 000
Reception Class
Fees paid from within Malawi- MK 560,000
Fees being paid independently from outside or by Malawian institutions- $1 690
Fees covered from an outside institution- $2 672
Primary School (Y1-6)
Fees paid from within Malawi- MK 750 000
Fees being paid independently from outside or by Malawian institutions- $2 190
Fees covered from an outside institution- $3 554
.jpg)
