Plato's Allegory Of The Cave

INTRODUCTION

The world has grown into a global village. Countries are becoming more interdependent for advancement, as well as resource flow and technology. Apparently, dynamic changes are being made in the way that developing countries carry out their business, trade and economic affairs. At the center of it all, most countries have come to realize that education is important in the maximization of efficiency in the various sectors that foster state development. As a result, efforts are being made to improve the education sector. Bearing in mind Plato’s allegory of the Cave, education is thought of as a tool that brings about enlightenment, hence most countries jointly came to an agreement to maximize access to education to ensure that more

(Malawi-History & Background)

Malawi has been globally ranked as one of the least developed nations in the world, currently ranked as the poorest country in the world. Over three quarters of the population in Malawi live below the official international line of poverty, giving the impression that they have less than $2 per day to spend on daily needs. (Verheijen, 2013) In response to global calls to make access to education universal, the Malawi government, under the leadership of the then President Bakili Muluzi, adopted the free primary education policy in October of 1994. Prior to its adoption, however, the leadership of Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda had brought in tuition waivers from Standard 1, but parents were still expected to pay book fees and to contribute to school funds. The coming in of FPE, however, meant that from 1994 onwards, the government of Malawi would be responsible for all the educational costs of its citizens. Due to the fact that there was no proper policy framework and an in-depth analysis of the implications that would come with this decision, the expansion of primary education in Malawi came at the expense of quality. (Riddell,