UNIMA Hosts Research Dissemination Seminar on Large Classroom Pedagogy

 The School of Education at the University of Malawi (UNIMA) on 29 January 2026 hosted a research dissemination seminar at the Great Hall, bringing together various stakeholders from the education sector to reflect on teaching and learning in large classroom environments.

The seminar, titled Large Classroom Pedagogy Research Dissemination, served as a key milestone in a two-year collaborative research project conducted by the UNIMA through the Department of Language Education, in partnership with Florida State University (FSU). The study examined how teachers can teach fairly and effectively in contexts characterised by very high pupil enrolment following the introduction of Free Primary Education.

Presentations during the seminar highlighted that while enrolment in primary schools has increased significantly, infrastructure development and teacher preparation have not kept pace. As a result, Malawian schools are experiencing extremely large classes, with some exceeding 100 learners and one reported case of a class with as many as 340 pupils. These conditions present major challenges for effective classroom instruction and learner support.

The research focused on teachers’ lived experiences in such environments and explored practical strategies that can support effective teaching despite large class sizes. Rather than concentrating solely on constraints, the findings encourage a shift towards identifying and utilising opportunities within the Malawian context.

Among the key recommendations is the use of child-to-child support, where learners assist one another to enhance understanding and participation. Group work was also identified as a practical and effective teaching approach in large classes, enabling teachers to manage learning more equitably. In addition, the study recommends integrating remedial support into daily teaching, rather than postponing it to the end of the week, to help struggling learners catch up consistently.

The dissemination seminar attracted participants both physically and online, including officials from the Ministry of Education, teachers, teacher educators, and representatives from the Malawi Institute of Education (MIE), which is currently reviewing the national curriculum.

Speaking during the seminar, Dr Peter Namphande, the Executive Dean of the School of Education, highlighted the importance of research in shaping the education sector.

“Evidence-based research such as this is critical because it informs our practices, guides decision-making, and shapes meaningful interventions that respond to the realities faced in our classrooms,” he said.

The presence of policymakers underscored the importance of the research in informing education policy, classroom practice, and teacher training reforms. The findings are expected to contribute to curriculum review processes, teacher education programmes, and broader education interventions, ensuring that newly trained teachers are better prepared to teach effectively in large classes.