Today, the Ministry of Civic Education and National Unity has finally delivered the National Civic Education Policy through a launch in Lilongwe. As you might recall, the National Civic Education Policy was among the earmarked targets that were promised, during my 100 days report, to be delivered this year.
The formulation process of the Policy began way back in 2007. Government had engaged the Institute of Policy, Research and Social Empowerment (IPRSE) as the consultant which worked hand in hand with Government’s planning committee which constituted the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) and the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) among others.
However, it’s completion and launch suffered unavailable political will along the journey, an impediment that has been righted by the new administration as led by His Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera.
After about thirteen years since its development process started, and after a series of consultative interface across the country, today a milestone has been recorded through the finalization and successful launch of the Policy.
This Policy responds to a myriad of challenges that have impacted the state of civic education in the country. Among others, such challenges include lack of proper coordination among civic education stakeholders, limited capacity and qualification of some implementing private stakeholders, duplication of efforts in delivery of civic education services, and selective delivery of civic education content among others.
One of the broad policy directions provided in this Policy is creativity and innovation. Bearing this in mind, and also bearing in mind that civic education that is expected to impact change ought to be a two-way process in which the Government and the citizenry interchangeably provide input and feedback, an innovative engagement platform called Pabwalo has been designed to facilitate this requirement.
The Ministry, in the matrix of this Policy, is a policy holder and there are designated stakeholders that are duty-bound to implement it. Among others, the implementation stakeholders include MDAs, CSOs, development partners and the academia. As a policy holder, the Ministry is charged with duty to monitor, coordinate and regulate the implementation by these various stakeholders.
I am, therefore, pleased to report that the much-awaited Policy has been successfully launched today as we work to deliver on the remaining target(s) before the year ends.