Control of education, including mission schools, is in the hands of the Ministry of Education. Attendance is compulsory for eight years at the primary level. Secondary education lasts for four years. Projected adult illiteracy rates for the year 2000 stand at 39.7% (males, 25.5%; females, 53.3%). As of 1999, 69% of primary-school-age children were enrolled in school. Most children in remote rural areas do not attend school. As of 1999, public expenditure on education was estimated at 4.6% of GDP.

In 1996, Malawi's 3,706 primary schools had 2,887,107 pupils and 49,138 teachers, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 59 to 1. Secondary schools had 141,911 students and 3,172 teachers in the same year. The pupil-teacher ratio at the primary level was 46 to 1 in 1999. The University of Malawi, inaugurated at Zomba on 6 October 1965, has four constituent colleges at Zomba, Lilongwe, and Blantyre. A new medical school was established in Blantyre. In 1996 there were 531 teachers and 5,561 pupils at the University and equivalent post-secondary institutions. Females accounted for only 30% of university students. In 1996 females accounted for 18% of secondary students.