By Burnett Munthali

The Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Bright Msaka (SC), has issued a stern warning to school authorities who continue to demand extra payments from learners despite government policy on free primary education.

He expressed his disappointment on Tuesday at Mpondamwala Primary School in the area of Traditional Authority Khongoni in Lilongwe District, where he presided over the commemoration of World Children’s Day.

Msaka said the practice of demanding additional payments is contributing to high school drop-out rates across the country.

He noted that many learners fail to continue with their education simply because their parents cannot afford the fees imposed by some schools.

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He reiterated that primary education in Malawi is free and that no school has the mandate to charge learners extra money.

He stressed that such demands must stop immediately to protect children’s right to education.

However, the minister encouraged parents to continue providing school uniforms for their children.

He explained that uniforms help identify learners and are important in times of emergencies.

Msaka further urged parents and guardians to send their children to school consistently.

He emphasized that no nation can achieve meaningful development without prioritizing investment in education.

In her remarks, UNICEF Country Representative Dr. Penelope Campbell commended the Government of Malawi for initiatives aimed at promoting quality education.

She assured UNICEF’s continued support in improving the learning environment for children across the country.

She highlighted that UNICEF will keep providing age-appropriate textbooks, teaching aids, and classroom materials to enhance education standards.

Earlier, the headteacher of Mpondamwala Primary School, Gladson Chipyola, expressed gratitude to the government and UNICEF for their ongoing assistance.

He said the support has significantly improved school performance and attendance at the institution.

Mpondamwala Primary School is part of the Living Schools Project, which was launched in 2021.

The school, established in 1992, currently has an enrolment of 960 learners.

This year’s World Children’s Day was commemorated under the theme: “My Day, My Rights.”