Teacher training

DAPP Teacher Training College Chilangoma

The teacher training college in Blantyre rural in Malawi was established as a result of the need for qualified rural primary school teachers in Malawi following the introduction of the free primary school education policy in 1994.

This led to a rapid increase in primary school enrolment and the subsequent demand for qualified teachers. The teacher training college is a development project by Development Aid from People to People in Malawi. The college was established in 2002, and enrolment of the first team to be trained at the college was in 2003.

The college is training modern rural primary school teachers for rural areas where development is lacking and the need for qualified teachers is high. The college is using the Modern Determination of Methods, a student centred and child centred learning/teaching approach, producing teachers who are creative, rich in initiative, innovative and ready to create development in the rural school and community.
The college is training students to take development work as an integral part of teaching profession. The training programme is for 2 ½ years and is divided into 8 periods. Each period has its name and characteristics.
The periods are:
    1st The world in which we live,
    2nd Our country - Malawi,
    3rd We continue building our college,
    4th Teaching practice and further studies,
    5th Specialisation and charter subjects,
    6th Teaching practice,
    7th The Pedagogical Workshop, and
    8th Final Examination
In the 1st period the students are learning about the world in general, thus exposing them to international education. The students do courses, research work, and experiments, carry out investigations and study contemporary issues like conflicts and wars, HIV/AIDS, development and poverty. In the 2nd period students focus on their own country, Malawi and study it in a practical way through field work and getting information on culture, history, practices from different regions. The 3rd period is construction work at the college. The students upgrade buildings at the college or construct new buildings. The construction experience is essential for the students in preparation for the construction work in the rural schools.

In the 4th period, school practice and further studies, students are teaching at a neighbouring primary school half day and use the other half-day for studies, thus integrating practice and theory. The students work as teachers for 11 months in the 6th period, doing their teaching practice. Apart from the teaching in the classes the students engage in community development initiatives as an integral part of the school practice period. The students reach out to the community with adult literacy classes, community development projects and awareness campaigns.

The college is a centre of activity and a nucleus of development in Blantyre rural district. It provides sports and conference facilities for the surrounding community. 250 people from the surrounding community attend classes in the afternoon from 4-6pm. Children have remedial classes and learn basic computer skills, and the adults attend lessons in tree planting, nutritious cooking, basic computer skills and sewing using machines. The college host seminars for the surrounding primary schools teachers on different issues affecting the country’s education system.

The Development Instructors are part of the college community. They run evening programs and courses in English. These International volunteers have established community pre-schools and train teachers for the pre-school as well as developing the teaching materials. The college is fighting HIV/AIDS through information campaign in form theatre plays, exhibitions and public lessons.

Trainee teachers

Trainee teachers work together

Teachers create teaching materials

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