Overview
The Keeping Girls in School Scholarship Programme provides a two-year senior secondary study programme to prepare for the Malawi national exams (MSCE), alongside formative Teaching Assistant school experience training programme.
Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (MSCE) study
This upgrade study programme is based on the syllabus for the Malawi national senior secondary (MSCE) exams in the core subject areas of English, Maths, Physical Science and Biology. It has been developed with The Open University (UK) (OU) expertise in open and distance learning in collaboration with Malawi educators. Scholars study independently and are supported in weekly tutorial sessions by subject Tutors who are qualified secondary school teachers.Teaching Assistant school experience training
School experience is provided through a two year placement as a Teaching Assistant in a local primary school. During this placement, Scholars follow a formative, OU designed, programme to develop their skills in supporting teaching and learning. Scholars are supported in their role as a Teaching Assistant by an experienced teacher in the school who acts as a Mentor, and by the Head Teacher.
Facilitators
Tutor and Mentor Facilitators are local experienced teacher educators, teachers or education officials and are key implementing partners. They provide the on-ground training and guidance throughout each major training, induction and review activity. The Facilitator handbook provides guidance on the implementation of both the senior secondary study and school experience programmes. It lays out the roles and responsibilities and provides guidance on the skills required.
Programme
The scholarship programme was implemented from 2012 – 2016 as part of the the UKaid funded Keeping Girls in School programme and provided scholarships for up to 2000 women in 4 rural districts of Machinga, Nsanje, Salima and Zomba. The aim of the programme was to provide more women as role models in school and aid girl's retention and progression.
Study and training materials
All programme materials, are available as open educational resources (OER). These can be freely downloaded, adapted and used in implementing your own secondary scholarship, refresher or bridging study courses, and/or formative teaching assistant and school volunteer training programme.