In Malawi, the majority of rural secondary schools have no access to electricity. Many of these schools though do have evening study sessions during which time they use kerosene lanterns to provide the required lighting. Due to the irregular availbility of kerosene and in order to limit costs this lighting is provided, at best, on a sporadic basis. Specific details and comments from some of these schools are available at Malawi school comments. The limited study time results in the pass rate for the students on their national exams being extremely low, on the order of 33%. In addition, the light provided by these lanterns is generally poor and the smoke from the lanterns is a health problem for many of the students.

LED Africa's project is to provide solar powered lighting systems to approximately 50 rural secondary schools in Malawi. The lighting would be provided in 2 classrooms each at these schools. Each classroom lighting system consists of a solar panel, a battery with controller and LED lanterns that will provide lighting for 50 students for up to 3 hours per evening. The cost for the components and installation of the solar powered lighting system for a single classroom is $1200.

The single solar panel, the battery, and cables which are required for each classroom are purchased from suppliers within Malawi. The battery box, which holds the battery and the controls, as well as the stands for the LED lanterns are built by local Malawian carpenters. The lanterns are all assembled in Malawi by Malawians.  After the system is installed, local Malawian staff are responsible for maintenance visits and replacing the batteries (required every 2 to 3 years). The schools pay an annual fee of $100 per classroom which covers these costs. The $100 fee is typically less than what the schools currently pay for the lantern fuel.

In August 2009, lighting systems were installed in two classrooms each at three rural secondary schools in Malawi.   As a result of the lighting systems providing regular lighting for the students to study by each evening, the average pass rate at the three schools on the National exams rose from 31% to 55%! In addition, for the first time in the history of two of the schools, students have qualified to go to the National University. In September 2010, lighting systems were installed at six additional rural secondary schools.









A 50 W solar panel is needed for each classroom. As lighting is provided to two classrooms at each school, two such panels are required. In the photo, Eric Mlatho (right) and Dickson Sumani (left) are installing the panels on the roof of one of the schools.





During the daytime each solar panel is plugged into the outlet at the end of the battery box. This charges the 50 Ah battery that is inside the box. In the evening the battery box is moved into the classroom where up to 8 lanterns can be plugged into the outlets on the sides of the box.





A total of 8 lanterns are provided for each classroom. Each lantern contains 48 LED lights and consumes 5 W of electrical power. The total power consumption for each classroom is therefore 40 W. In the photo, Aleck Yenda, the field manager for LED Africa, is holding one of the lanterns.





Students put their desks together in the evening and place a lantern at the centre. Each lantern provides lights for 6 or so students. Therefore the 8 lanterns used in each classroom can provide lights for up to 50 students. The lanterns can be used for up to 3 hours each evening.





The wooden lantern stands and the battery box are built by the carpenters shown in the photo. The wiring of the lamps, the battery box, and the solar panels, are carried out by the LED Africa team consisting of Aleck Yenda, Eric Mlatho, Dickson Sumani, and Ray Penner.