The Ministry of Education has handed over a bulk of Science and Mathematics textbooks and teachers’ guides to secondary schools which are expected to improve the teaching and learning of science subjects in the country’s secondary schools.

Minister of Education, Agnes nyaLonje presided the over ceremony at Masuku Community Day Secondary School in Mangochi on Wednesday with hope the textbooks would improve the pass rate of learners in Science and Mathematics subjects.

“Since the introduction of science-based curriculum in 2015, there have been a lot of challenges in fulfilling the requirements, especially in CDSSs.

“I believe from now onwards, things are going to change for the better where we will have quality learning in line with the Agenda 2063,” said nyaLonje.

The textbooks will be distributed in all public secondary schools in the country.

“The text books have gone to every secondary school such that every learner from form 1 to 4 will have mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology textbooks so that there is one book per learner,” said Nyalonje.

The minister has since called upon the teachers and learners to take good care of the textbooks and refrain from selling them.

Earlier, South East Education Division Manager, MacAuden Msakatiza assured the minister that teachers would lead by example by taking care of the teachers’ guides and textbooks to ensure schools continue to have adequate stock of the learning material.

Msakatiza also hailed the Ministry of Education for holding the ceremony at Masuku CDSS in South East Education Division, saying the courtesy was testimony that government was commitment in improving secondary education across the country.

On his part, Masuku CDSS Head Teacher, Master Kajawo expressed hope the textbooks would improve school level of performance which he said was not impressive due to limited textbooks and teachers’ guides.

“The books will improve teaching and learning and as a result the pass rate will improve,” he said while commending Masuku CDSS teachers’ efforts despite limited resources.

The textbooks were procured by the Ministry of Education under Equity with Quality Learning at Secondary School Project that started in 2020 with support from the World Bank through an IDA credit of $90 million.

This year, 1,268,320 science and mathematics text books and 24, 656 teachers’ guides will be distributed to all government secondary schools in the country.

The six-year project targets secondary schools, especially community day secondary schools which are said to be disadvantaged in terms of teaching and learning materials, according to the Ministry of Education.