By Burnett Munthali
First Lady Madame Monica Chakwera officially handed over the newly constructed Chiyola Community Day Secondary School in Rumphi District, a development aimed at improving access to education, especially for girls in the region.
During the handover ceremony, Madame Chakwera highlighted the importance of education in transforming the lives of young girls and reducing the long distances they currently have to travel to reach schools. She underscored the role of mothers in encouraging their daughters to pursue education, emphasizing that an educated population is vital for the country’s development.
“My mother was able to read and write and knew the value of education. She made sure that my brothers and I went to school,” Chakwera said. “Let me urge girls here to work hard in school and not drop out to get married. There is always time to get married. Secure your future through education.”
The First Lady expressed her gratitude to Press Trust for funding the construction of the school, valued at K417 million. She also called on other corporate stakeholders to support the Trust in building hostels at the school to further enhance students’ access to education.
Minister of Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, who was also present at the event, reiterated the school’s significance in improving educational opportunities for students in rural areas. She noted that providing quality education close to students’ homes is crucial for achieving the goals set out in Malawi’s Vision 2063.
“Human capital is very critical to the Malawi 2063 vision, and education is the catalyst for all things espoused in the Vision. To have a new school in this remote area is very important to that vision,” said Wirima. She added that the Ministry of Education will work on mobilizing resources, in collaboration with stakeholders, to construct hostels for students.
The school’s headteacher, Elisa Chipofya, expressed relief that students in the area no longer have to walk up to 16 kilometers daily to attend secondary school. She reported that of the 51 students selected for Form One, 48 had already registered and commenced their studies, signaling a strong commitment to education in the community.
Chiyola CDSS, which opened its doors on 16th September 2024, is expected to be a major boost to education in the region, providing young learners with the opportunity to access secondary education closer to home.
Following the handover ceremony, the First Lady is scheduled to interact with elderly women at Mwazisi Primary School Ground in Rumphi District.
