crazy reality, super vision

Came across some unbelievable statistics that help paint a picture of the poverty here. This is the state of the education system here in Machinga District, the investment into the next generation of Malawians on who the future of this nation depends.

• 40% of schools are temporary grass shelters
• classroom-pupil ratio is 1:105, so many classes are under trees
• 1 pit latrine (outhouse) for every 170 students
• pupil-desk ratio is 1:8.75 (4 desks per 35 students)
• only 7 schools have libraries
  
• 50% of teachers are unqualified
• teacher to student ratio is 1:97
• 12 secondary schools with high dropout rate because of poverty, distance to school, early marriage, family responsibilities, orphaned
• 51% of population has never attended school

Right below all these statistics on the bulletin board I was reading was the following highly ambitious statement:

By the year 2020, Malawi as a God-fearing nation will be secure, democratically mature, environmentally sustainable, self reliant with equal opportunities for and active participation by all,having social services, vibrant cultural and religious values and being a technologically driven middle-income economy.

- Malawi Vision 2020

Desirable, ambitious, yes. Attainable, not likely.
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