While Malawi has achieved near gender parity in primary school enrolment, substantial disparities remain in secondary completion, learning outcomes, and long-term opportunities for girls. Persistent structural barriers, including poverty, early marriage, inadequate school infrastructure, and weak policy implementation, continue to undermine progress. Evidence demonstrates that integrated interventions combining financial support, gender-responsive pedagogy, safe school environments, and community norm change are most effective. This brief outlines progress to date, identifies persistent systemic gaps, and proposes targeted, evidence-based reforms to accelerate gender-responsive education and ensure that parity translates into meaningful achievement.
Sharon Gwedeza was the lead author.
