Roles and Responsibilities of Departments and Institutions Involved in Initial Training, Continuous Professional Development and Management of Primary School Teachers

This clarification was necessitated by the need to implement the recommendations of the 2005 Functional Review of the Ministry, decentralization of some functions, and the implementation of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for primary school teachers. The Ministry assigned the task of coordinating the process of clarifying the roles and responsibilities to the Director of Education Methods Advisory Services (EMAS), which is now the Department of Inspection and Advisory Services (DIAS). With support from the Malawi Teacher Professional Development Support (MTPDS) project, DIAS developed a discussion paper on the roles and responsibilities of the various departments involved in initial training, CPD, and management of primary school teachers. The discussion paper was presented to stakeholders in several consultative meetings for input and comments. A final paper, incorporating the comments and input from the stakeholders, was approved by the Ministry on May 9, 2012. This document summarizes the discussion paper for ease of dissemination and use by the various departments and institutions involved in initial training, CPD, and management of primary school teachers. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is responsible for providing Basic Education, including the formulation and review of policies, rules, and regulations on Basic Education, as well as setting and reviewing standards on Basic Education. The Department of Teacher Education and Development (DTED) facilitates the implementation of teacher education and development programs, including coordination, design, and development of teacher training programs. The Department of Inspection and Advisory Services (DIAS) provides inspection and advisory services, including enforcement, maintenance, and evaluation of education standards, initiation of curriculum development, and formulation of inspection and advisory policies. The Department of Public Service Management (DPSM) provides human resource management services, including recruitment, planning, and development, implementation of terms and conditions of service, and management of personnel records. The Department of Educational Planning (DEP) provides planning, monitoring, and evaluation services, including provision of planning services, monitoring and evaluation services, and management of donor-funded development programs. Domasi College of Education (DCE) alleviates the shortage of teachers in the country by providing secondary school teacher training services and TTC tutor training services. The Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) is responsible for providing teacher education and development services, including the design and implementation of teacher education programs, as well as the provision of in-service training for teachers. The Malawi Government Teaching Service Commission (MGTSC) is responsible for the management of the teaching service, including the recruitment, deployment, and promotion of teachers. The National Strategy for Teacher Education and Development (NSTED) aims to improve the quality of teacher education and development in Malawi, including the development of a national teacher education policy, the establishment of a teacher education council, and the provision of in-service training for teachers. The Malawi Teacher Professional Development Support (MTPDS) project supports the professional development of teachers in Malawi, including the implementation of the National Primary Curriculum. The roles and responsibilities of the various departments and institutions involved in initial training, CPD, and management of primary school teachers have been clarified to improve coordination among the various departments and institutions, and to ensure that teachers receive the necessary support and training to improve the quality of education in Malawi.