●      Summary: MERP is a large-scale systemic intervention focused on the "physical and managerial" environment of primary education. It addresses the critical issue of classroom overcrowding and high pupil-to-teacher ratios that hinder early learning.

●      Goal: To improve the learning environment for lower primary students (Standards 1-4) and strengthen the decentralized management of the education system at the district and school levels.

●      Scope of Works:

○ Massive Construction: Building 10,900 low-cost classroom "twin-blocks" and 1,000 sanitation blocks nationwide.

○ Staffing: Recruitment and training of auxiliary teachers to support overstretched permanent staff.

○ Leadership: Training school headteachers and School Management Committees (SMCs) in effective governance and leadership.

●      Target: Implementation across all 34 Education Districts in Malawi, prioritizing schools with a Pupil-to-Classroom Ratio (PCR) exceeding 90:1.

●      Active Partners: World Bank and Global Partnership for Education (GPE).