Kamuzu Academy is a private boarding school in Kasungu, Malawi, founded by and named after Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the former President of Malawi. Latin and Greek are compulsory subjects, and the school follows the Cambridge IGCSE and A-level curriculum. The school has been described as "The Eton of Africa".

History

Founding

thumb|alt=Interior of the Kamuzu Academy library showing reading tables and bookshelves|Interior of the library

The school was officially founded on 21 November 1981, although students had already been attending classes for a month before the opening ceremony. Banda's stated aim was to provide a classical education modelled on British boarding schools. At its opening, the school's estimated construction cost was US$40 million; facilities included an Olympic-size swimming pool, a golf course, piano instruction, and a library modelled on the Library of Congress.

In 1987, it was the subject of a BBC documentary entitled "The Eton of Africa", presented by John Rae.

Post-1994 crisis and recovery

When Banda was removed from power in 1994, state funding ceased. Electricity was cut, staff went unpaid for four months, and teachers and pupils left in large numbers.

Notable alumni

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  • Catherine Gotani Hara
  • Samson Kambalu
  • Chanju Samantha Mwale
  • Yolanda Kaunda

See also

  • List of boarding schools

References

Further reading

  • Kamuzu Academy at Malawi tourism