France, Dec. 7 -- In a bid to improve literacy levels in the country, Mutharika has announced that tuition fees, examination fees, school development fees and fees for identity cards used during examinations have all been abolished.

"I also want to direct that no public school should be requesting learners to make contributions towards the School Development Fund and any other fees, except boarding fees," Mutharika added.

Secondary school pupils in boarding schools will still need to pay boarding fees, which remain substantial.

The move is expected to increase enrolment and lower the drop-out rate.

Although the latter has improved significantly for primary education - from 11.7 percent in 2009 to 3.2 percent in 2018, according to the ...