The effects of school violence on education in Malawi

In response to a global policy effort to increase school enrollment, in 1994 Malawi became one of the first low-income countries to eliminate primary school fees. Since then, Malawi has achieved nearly universal primary enrollment, however enrolling young Malawians in school has not translated into keeping them in school. This policy brief describes the nature and consequences of school violence in rural Malawi—a common experience for both girls and boys. There is little evidence that school violence disrupts schooling as expected, with the exception of sexual violence experienced at school by boys. Violence at home is also common, and may disrupt schooling for both girls and boys. These findings emphasize the need for an integrated view of gender, education, and violence in order to implement effective programs and policies to curb school-related gender-based violence and improve education outcomes for young people in Malawi and around the world