Malawi Interactive Radio Instruction (Tikwere!)

Malawi primary schools face issues of large classes, high repetition rates, and teachers who resort to lectures and other marginally effective rote learning techniques to teach crowded classrooms. The Malawi Tikwere! (Let’s go up!) program uses interactive radio instruction (IRI) broadcasts to address these issues and bring student-centered instruction to primary schools countrywide. Funded by USAID and implemented by EDC, the program has two main objectives: 1) improve the learning outcomes in basic subjects in early primary school grades 1–3 and 2) support and reinforce the introduction of the new primary curriculum (PCAR) in Malawi. IRI content is provided to every primary school in the nation, and covers all basic skills in the curriculum (including literacy, numeracy, English and Life Skills). Schools use next-generation ‘wind up’ radios to tune in to daily 30 minute lessons, which are written and produced by a team of Malawian and Zambian scriptwriters. Tikwere! improves both the quality and equity of education—significant learning gains for all participants are expected, including gains in girls’ achievement and closing the rural/urban education gap.