Gaps in school infrastructure, teaching personnel and learning materials are expected to receive a boost following Standard Bank Plc’s launch of a K517.6 million youth empowerment initiative.

Dubbed Project Youth, the initiative targets different levels of Malawi’s education system through investments in school infrastructure, tertiary scholarships, vocational training and programmes aimed at supporting young people.

Launching the initiative in Blantyre on Monday, Standard Bank Chief Executive Phillip Madinga said the programme consolidates the bank’s education investments under one platform to create greater impact.

“Project Youth reflects our belief that education is the greatest enabler of national growth. By building classrooms, funding university students at MUBAS and MUST, and supporting vocational training at DAPP, we are investing in infrastructure, talent and skills,” said Madinga.

The project comes as the education sector continues to face shortages of classrooms, teachers and teaching and learning materials, challenges that Education Minister Bright Msaka says require stronger collaboration between government and other players.

“We do need more secondary schools to be built so that more children can transition from primary to secondary school. We also need more primary schools. We need more teachers. We need teaching and learning materials, things like desks and things like that,” said Msaka.

At tertiary level, MUBAS Vice Chancellor Nancy Chitera says the initiative is timely as it will strengthen the university’s Endowment Fund, which is aimed at supporting students facing financial challenges.

Chitera said the additional funding will help the institution provide opportunities for needy students who might otherwise struggle to meet the cost of their education.

Under Project Youth, Standard Bank will spend K261 million to construct a school block at Chivumbe Community Day Secondary School, aimed at easing pressure on existing classroom space.

The bank is also committing K100 million in tuition endowments for financially disadvantaged students pursuing STEM programmes at MUBAS and MUST, while K40 million will support vocational training through DAPP Malawi.

Further support includes K33 million for Hope for the Blind, K64 million to Press Trust for a secondary school merit scholarship fund and K20 million for girls’ mentorship under CARE Malawi’s SOAR project.

The combined interventions bring Standard Bank’s investment under Project Youth to K517.6 million.

Msaka said the interventions demonstrate how private sector support can complement government efforts to address challenges across the education value chain.

“Standard Bank has stepped forward under Project Youth to support in a very significant way the effort of building the Malawian youth in readiness for the world of today and the world of tomorrow,” he said.

He has since urged other organisations to follow Standard Bank’s lead, saying the scale of challenges in the education sector requires broader partnerships.

“They have led the way, and I’m sure others will follow,” said Msaka.