Source:
Higher Education Quality Management Initiative for Southern Africa (HEQMISA)
"Malawi Country Project...
The project was carried out in order to stimulate both staff and students/pupils in the environment they live in and how they can use these local resources in the process of teaching and learning. It is hoped that TALULAR would result in increased creativity as well as supplying the resources for teaching and learning instead of relying on
imported goods.
The following questions were asked after the impressive presentation:
1 Can TALULAR also be used in other courses?
Other areas that have been shown to use TALULAR are biology,language among others. Teachers/facilitators provide examples from their own fields
2 At what level of education can TALULAR be used?
Talular is appropriate at all levels of education starting at primary level and will continue to other levels when the new curriculum gets phased in.
3 How do you conduct assessments?
TALULAR provides a good foundation for education and assessment and is embedded in the course curriculum which is outcome based.
4 What are the challenges to be encountered when using Talurar?
Teachers and lecturers feel shy collecting waste materials for utilisation. In addition, there is also a lack of expertise in collecting materials.
5 What measures are there for follow up and feedback using the Cascade Model?
These will be checked through visits to colleges. This reduces costs and will be done during the normal activities of the MoE.
6 Why was the focus on TTCs and not other institutions?
The TTCs were easier to access because of the problem of inadequate funding.
7 Why were Principals not included in the workshops?
The Deputy Principals are normally in charge of academic programmes while the Principals are busy with other administrative activities.
8 Where is the ‘learner centeredness’ and where is ‘quality’?
Participants explained how they were going to use the resources and also the provision of equipment.
... The general situation of education in Malawi and other SADC countries was discussed in general. It was agreed that a teacher: pupil ratio of 1:300 is extremely challenging..."
