How does Malawi’s education policy address students’ mother tongues and English?

Malawi’s education policy establishes a transition between local languages and English to facilitate learning. Under the 1996 government policy, students in grades 1 through 4 receive instruction in their mother tongue or local vernacular language.1

Beginning in grade 5, the medium of instruction shifts to English. While English is spoken by a minority of the population, it remains the primary language used for higher education, as well as in business, administration, and the judicial system. This policy aims to balance the use of indigenous Bantu languages—such as Chewa, Lomwe, Yao, and Tumbuka—with the practical necessity of English proficiency in professional and academic spheres.1