Recently, education authorities in several countries have pushed policies discouraging or banning holiday or part‑time classes outside the official school calendar.
In Malawi specifically, the ministry has issued stern warnings against teaching or coaching during holiday breaks, insisting schools adhere strictly to regulations that do not permit holiday teachings and urging compliance.
And it is vital to note that this initiative has spanned across regimes, first appearing in the Chakwera administration and now also being echoed by the new Mutharika government.
The reasoning often cited is that students need rest and that structured breaks protect their well‑being.
But in practice, this ban does more harm than good — especially for learners gearing up for critical exams.
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So here’s my argument…
1. The Ministry’s Position Isn’t Working in Reality
In several education systems, ministries have formally prohibited teaching during holidays, arguing that extra lessons during breaks can disadvantage some families and disrupt rest periods.
The policy aims to protect leisure time and reduce pressure.
But what it fails to acknowledge is the real learning needs of students, especially for those in exam years who need extra time to master difficult concepts and complete syllabus coverage.
2. Bans Don’t Eliminate Extra Learning — They Drive It Underground
Despite the ban in some places, many schools and teachers continue to conduct holiday classes in secret simply to meet students’ needs.
For example, investigations in Malawi have found that covert remedial classes still happen — often at high cost — because teachers and parents believe these lessons genuinely help learners prepare for exams.
This shows that:
The demand for extra learning exists.
Bans don’t stop the practice — they just make it unregulated and unfair.
Schools trying to comply with restrictive policies can leave their students at a disadvantage.
3. Extra Classes Help With Syllabus Coverage and Exam Readiness
Studies in various contexts show that when students attend structured revision or extra lessons during breaks, they often complete more syllabus content and do more intensive review than they would otherwise — with many learners reporting that such teaching helps them get exam‑ready.
A ban on extra classes removes valuable preparation time, especially at a stage when every lesson can make the difference between passing and failing.
Unless my reasoning is twisted but I believe it is in the best interests of the ministry for students to do better in their studies, and yet this ban feels more counter productive at best.
4. Banning Extra Classes Doesn’t Solve Inequality — It Exacerbates It
One of the main arguments for the ban is that holiday lessons favour wealthier families who can pay fees. But critics point out that:
+ Wealthier families still find ways to secure private tuition even with bans in place.
+ Lower‑income students lose formal, structured support while more advantaged learners learn privately, widening the achievement gap.
This means bans don’t fix inequality — they just force disadvantaged students to study alone without guided instruction.
And of course there are affordable alternatives to the cost and inequality problem because at The Chibondo Academy, we literally offer the cheapest access, and yet high value content in all subjects that are on offer on our learning platform.
5. Education Policy Should Be Flexible, Not Restrictive
Some education systems, like in Zimbabwe for example, where they had a similar ban, have already recognized the problems with outright bans and introduced regulated holiday lessons — for example, permitting structured revision for exam classes only — showing that policy can be responsive to real needs when guided by learners’ best interests.
This underscores that blanket bans are often not responsive to student realities and that education policy should be needs‑driven rather than purely bureaucratic.
The red tape is just so unnecessary and instead of fueling innovation in the education sector it is instead propelling us backwards.
ALLOW ME TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE CLASSES
Given the flaws in holiday bans, simply arguing against them isn’t enough — we need a solution that gives parents and students practical, affordable support.
That’s why our Online Classes are the best alternative for learners preparing for exams:
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💡 Affordable Continuation Plans
After the trial, parents can choose a continuation plan at a reasonable, student‑friendly fee — so quality extra support is accessible to all families, not just those who can afford expensive private lessons.
📚 Exam‑Focused Curriculum
Lessons are designed around national exam syllabi and key revision areas, helping students build confidence and cover content efficiently — especially where schools may have left gaps.
📱 Flexible, Accessible Anywhere
Online learning lets learners study from home at times that fit their schedule.
Research shows that online learning is more cost‑effective and accessible than traditional in‑person options, making it ideal for students preparing for big exams without extra time in school.
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Banning extra classes during school holidays may look good on paper, but in practice it:
✔ Doesn’t stop holiday learning — it just pushes it into unregulated spaces.
✔ Hurts students who need extra time to understand key subjects.
✔ Worsens educational inequality.
✔ Reduces opportunities for meaningful exam prep.
Students need support, not arbitrary restrictions. Policies should enable affordable, structured extra learning — not prohibit it.
With our Online Classes, parents have an option that is:
➡ Fair — affordable for every family.
➡ Effective — focused on real exam success.
➡ Flexible — fits around students’ lives and schedules.
Try The Chibondo Academy for free for 7 days — then continue at a reasonable fee — because every student deserves a chance to succeed.
