Malawi Freedom Network 
DOMASI, ZOMBA — 12 SEPTEMBER 2026 — A new chapter has been opened at Malemia Primary School in Domasi, Zomba, after nine learners were selected to proceed to secondary school, in what community members say is a historic breakthrough for the institution.
The development has attracted the attention of emerging political voice Rhodrick Junaid Kalumpha, who on Friday, 11 September, joined the leadership of Matandani Youth Organisation, including Fabiano Black Junior, in recognising and supporting the successful learners.
Kalumpha and his team presented the nine learners with small educational starter packs designed to encourage them as they begin the next stage of their academic journey.
But beyond the gifts, the initiative has drawn attention to a much bigger issue: the importance of ensuring that children from every community have a genuine pathway from primary education to secondary school and beyond.
A Historic Moment for Malemia Primary School
According to information shared during the initiative, Malemia Primary School, which was established in 1948, has reportedly reached a remarkable milestone, with the nine learners becoming the first group from the school to be selected for secondary education.
If confirmed by relevant education authorities and school records, the development represents a significant moment in the history of the institution.
For a school that has served generations of children for decades, the breakthrough is both a celebration and a reminder of how many young people may have struggled to progress beyond primary education in the past.
The situation is particularly striking because Malemia Primary School is located close to institutions that are themselves associated with education, including the Malawi Institute of Education and Domasi College of Education.
The contrast has inevitably raised questions about access to quality education and opportunities for children living in surrounding communities.
Kalumpha: Education Must Become a Community Priority
Speaking through the initiative, Kalumpha stressed the importance of making education a central priority in communities.
The intervention was not limited to the nine learners.
The team also brought together 14 village headmen, presenting each with a small token of appreciation while encouraging traditional leaders to champion education within their respective communities.
The message was clear: the responsibility for improving educational outcomes cannot rest with teachers alone.
Parents, traditional leaders, community organisations, political leaders and the wider community all have a role to play in ensuring children remain in school and receive the support they need.
Kalumpha’s involvement places him within a growing conversation about the role of young Malawians in tackling some of the country’s longstanding social and economic challenges.
“Education Is the Great Equaliser”
The initiative reflects a simple but powerful argument: education remains one of the strongest tools available to break the cycle of poverty.
A child who receives a quality education has a greater opportunity to acquire skills, access decent employment, contribute to the economy and improve the wellbeing of their family.
Conversely, limited access to education can severely restrict opportunities and perpetuate poverty from one generation to another.
For Kalumpha, therefore, supporting learners at Malemia is not simply about providing gifts.
It is about sending a message that every child deserves the opportunity to dream beyond the circumstances into which they were born.
A Small Gesture With a Bigger Message
The starter packs given to the nine learners may appear modest, but their significance goes beyond their material value.
For learners preparing to enter secondary school, such support can provide encouragement at a crucial moment in their lives.
It tells them that their achievement matters.
It tells their parents that the community recognises their efforts.
And, perhaps most importantly, it tells other children that secondary school is an achievable destination.
The involvement of village headmen also adds another important dimension to the initiative.
Traditional leaders remain influential figures within rural and peri-urban communities, and their commitment to education can play a critical role in encouraging parents to keep children in school, discouraging early school dropout and promoting a culture in which academic achievement is valued.
Congratulations to the Teachers and Parents
The breakthrough at Malemia Primary School is also a tribute to the teachers who continue to educate children under challenging circumstances and to parents who support their children’s education despite economic difficulties.
The nine successful learners now have an opportunity to take another important step toward their future.
Their achievement should not only be celebrated as an individual success but also used as inspiration for the next generation of learners at Malemia and surrounding communities.
For Kalumpha and the Matandani Youth Organisation, the message from Domasi is bigger than one school.
Malawi cannot build a prosperous future without investing in its children today.
The story of Malemia Primary School demonstrates both the challenges that remain and the possibilities that emerge when communities begin to place education at the centre of development.
As the nine learners prepare for secondary school, their journey carries a powerful message for Malawi:
Where there is opportunity, children can rise. Where communities support education, generations can change.
Congratulations to the nine learners, their parents, teachers and the entire Malemia Primary School community.
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