You will find below a list of the most popular international and bilingual schools for expats in Malawi with fee information. The list includes nursery schools, primary and secondary (high) schools for you to find the right school to prepare for the International Baccalaureate and other accreditation in Malawi. Some schools may follow the American or British curriculums with English speaking programs.

Education in Malawi

The government of Malawi established free primary education for all children in 1994. However, there is a national shortage of classrooms and qualified teachers.

Primary education consists of eight years (Standard 1 to Standard 8) beginning at 6, but it is common for students of all ages to attend. Students take examinations in English, ChiChewa, maths, science, and social studies and must gain a Primary School Leaving Certificate based on their Standard 8 final exam results in order to progress to secondary school. School terms are generally from September to December, January to April, and April to July.

International Schools

International schools can be the perfect solution for an expat student (multinational corporation executives, children of diplomats, NGO staff) in Malawi. International schools provide similar standards of schooling around the globe, providing for an easy transition between schools whether they are in France or Vietnam.

There is usually local population, as well as an international student body. Schools may follow a curriculum model from the US, UK, France, etc. Primary instruction may be any language (and multiple languages are usually taught), but it is usually in English. Schools also provide internationally accepted accreditation such as the international baccalaureate.

Admission and enrollment procedures vary from school to school. Space is often limited and preference may be given to students based on nationality. Tuition tends to be expensive based on local standards, but offers high standards of learning, boast smaller class sizes, first-rate facilities, and extracurricular. Boarding facilities are available at some schools, but most only provide day classes.

Accreditation & Membership

• Council of International Schools (CoIS) is a non-profit association of international schools and post-secondary institutions which provides educational accreditation, teacher and leadership recruitment services, links to higher education, governance assistance and help with founding new schools.
• Council of British International Schools (COBIS) is a responsive organisation that serves, supports and represents its member schools.

International Schools in Blantyre

Hillview International Primary School
Address: PO Box 5809
Limbe, Malawi
Tel: +265 1 843540
Tuition Rates: MK 603,680 per term

International, private school which offers the UK National Curriculum. There is one class per year group providing a distinct community feel. Uniforms are required.

St. Andrew's International Primary School (SAIPS)
Address: Joaquim Chissano Road
Brereton, Blantyre, Malawi
Tel: +265 (0)1833 428
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

A non-profit, non-selective, coeducation international day school that provides a balanced education to children of wide ranging abilities and nationalities aged 2 to 12. The School follows the enhanced National Curriculum for England. It is part of COBIS and curriculum is approved by the British Council.

St. Andrew's International High School (SAIntS)
Address: Brereton Drive, Nyambadwe, Private Bag 211,
Blantyre, Malawi
Tel: +265  (0)1 823 688
Email: info@saints.mw
Tuition Rates: from $8700 to $15300

St. Andrew's International High School is a well established school with origins dating back to the 1930's.  The school caters for a wide range of students, aged from 11 to 18 years and hailing from over 30 countries.  The curriculum is UK based with students taking iGCSE Cambridge and Edexcel examinations plus Edexcel BTEC qualifications.  In the sixth form they follow A Level and BTEC courses.  Most students go on to study abroad in Europe and the USA plus Canada and Australia.

Sir Harry Johnston International Primary School (SHJ)
Address: Kalimbuka Road
Zomba, Malawi
Tel: +2651525280
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

This school was founded in the early 1950s and in the early 1970s the school became one of five "designated schools" under an agreement with the British government that allowed the centrally funded, private schools to continue employing expatriate teachers. In the 1990s the Designated School Board was disbanded and the school became financially independent. The majority of the students are Malawian, with other nationaltieis also represented. There is an English curriculum with a cross-curricula approach.

Phoenix International Primary School
Address: PO Box 30376
Blantyre, Malawi, Central Africa
Tel: +265 (0) 1 824 845 / 265 (0) 1 824 845
Tuition Rates: MWK 315,000 - 700,000 per year

Phoenix International Primary School caters to students from pre-Nursery to Year Six. it follows a broad-based curriculum and teachers use methods based on the best of the British National Curriculum, including the Numeracy and Literacy Hours. The curriculum also includes IT, Art, Music, Drama, French, PSHE, PE, Swimming and Design and Technology.

International Schools in Lilongwe

Bishop Mackenzie International Schools (BMIS)
Address: PO Box 102
Lilongwe, Malawi
Tel: +265 1 756 631 or 265 1 756 364
Tuition Rates: $11,616 - 17,926 per year

An international, coeducational day school which offers an educational program from kindergarten through grade 12 for pupils of all nationalities. The curriculum for students in pre-school to grade 5 and follows the Primary Years Program (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB). The school year comprises 3 trimesters from mid August to early December, from early January through late March, and early April to late June.

Kamuzu Academy
Address: Private Bag 1
Mtunthama, Kasungu, Malawi, Central Africa
Tel: +265-1-259-288
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

A private co-educational boarding school that was founded by the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the former President of Malawi. Catering to students aged 11 to 18, it is described by its proponents as "The Eton of Africa". Latin and Greek are compulsory, with other subjects like Art, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, and English. The Academy offers courses leading to the IGCSE examinations of the University of Cambridge and other UK examining bodies at the end of Form 5, and to GCE AS and A levels at the end of the Lower and Upper 6th Forms respectively. Its lower school courses are influenced by, but not tied to, the UK National Curriculum. It also offers the theory examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and is a centre for the US-based SAT examinations. Its three academic terms run from September to December, January to March and April to June.