PRESS STATEMENT
For immediate release
January 2, 2021
Ministry of Education
Lilongwe
2021 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
The Ministry of Education wishes to remind all Principals, Head Teachers, educators, stakeholders and the general public that the 2021 Academic Calendar starts on 4th January 2021 and will end on 8th October 2021 as follows:
Term Opening Closing Total weeks Duration of holiday
One 4th January 2021 26th March 2021 12 2 weeks
Two 12th April 2021 2nd July 2021 12 2 weeks
Three 19th July 2021 8th October 2021 12 2 weeks
The Ministry further wishes to remind all stakeholders that all education institutions as they open on the 4th of January 2021 shall follow ALL LAID DOWN COVID-19 PREVENTIIVE GUIDELINES as issued by the Ministries of Education and Health. Education institutions shall also continue operating by adhering to administrative measures and strategies that were used in the third term of 2019/20 pertaining to teacher and studentsβ attendance, time on task, continuous assessment and remediation.
As you are aware, the Ministry of Education re-opened schools on 7th September, 2020 with all the COVID-19 measures in place and all schools were successfully closed on the 18th December, 2020 with no registered case of COVID-19.
With the rise in COVID-19 cases, we urge all parents, teachers, learners and students to strictly practice the three preventive measures: washing hands, social distancing and wearing of face masks.
All public and private schools, Technical and Teacher Training Colleges and Universities must remind learners and students of the COVID-19 measures and prevention during the first meeting in class on 4th January 2020. This will enable us to protect each other.
The Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, shall closely monitor all education institutions and advise of any changes and directions according to the situation on the ground. The Ministry is aware that COVID-19 is amidst us and appeals for education institutions to be in constant touch with the community health surveillance systems so that the institutions are always alert on issues of public health.
All school managers and educators are further reminded that they should implement the curriculum and all remedial guidelines that have been laid down to ensure maximum coverage of the curriculum as the 2021 academic calendar is shorter than the ideal, taking into account that the calendar is still in the catch-up strategy.
All educators, stakeholders and the general public are reminded that the school calendar is harmonized for all education institutions at all levels whether public or private. No education institution should therefore operate outside this academic calendar.
The Ministry calls upon all institutions to strictly adhere to and be in full compliance with this directive.
Finally, the Ministry would like to remind all institutions and the general public, to strongly adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures at all times as stipulated in the September 2020 school re-opening guidelines.
For further information, please contact the Ministry on 0999 55 10 00/ 0888 89 72 57/ 0888 30 85 23.
Chikondano C. Mussa
SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION