Site-based support networks for problem solving and professional development for teachers in three pilot primary schools in three regions of Malawi were developed through this partnership. An educator from the Malawi Institute of Education and three faculty members from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT) selected and visited the three schools.

Based on more than 400 hours of classroom observation, meetings with community members, and seminars with teachers—including the head teachers of the schools—the team developed portraits of teaching and learning in primary classrooms for each region. Each school identified instructional problems, then developed and implemented strategies to improve teaching and learning.

Each school also developed and carried out a plan for extending the professional development activities to a number of other schools in their regions. As a direct result of the award, VT won a University Partners for Institutional Capacity in Education grant to develop a primary teacher education specialization at Domasi College of Education and to develop Mzuzu University’s instructional technology program.