Education in Dzaleka

School system

Schools in Dzaleka follow the Malawi curriculum, and learners can sit national examinations. UNHCR’s August 2024 fact sheet recorded one public preschool, two public primary schools, one public secondary school, and 27 private schools spanning preschool, primary, and secondary levels.

UNHCR and its partners support public schools. Faith-based organisations and community members have established many of the private schools. The number and operating status of private schools can change, so individual school listings should be checked separately.

Access and pressure

Population growth has repeatedly put classrooms under pressure. When refugees were transferred from Luwani to Dzaleka in 2007, UNHCR reported sharp increases in enrolment and class sizes. Overcrowding, school fees, learning materials, language transitions, and limited secondary places remain important parts of the education story.

Post-secondary and digital learning

Post-secondary opportunities include scholarships, university study in Malawi, online programmes, and community learning centres. Jesuit Refugee Service and Jesuit Worldwide Learning were early providers of higher education in the camp. Technology programmes, including the Dzaleka AppFactory, also created routes into software development and digital work.