DEM calls Chiefs to safeguard girls education

By Esnath Kalawe

District Education Manager(DEM) LL Urban, Madam Towera Banda has called on Parents and Chiefs in Mtandire Lilongwe, to take an active role in safeguarding girls from hurdles that impinge them from continuining with education.

The call was made during an open day event that was held at Kamkodola LEA School in Mtandire which is in Traditional Authority Njewa, Lilongwe.

The District Education Manager, Who was the Guest of honour, Towera Banda said it is very pathetic that a good number of girls drop out of school in the area due to diverse reasons hence calling for active interventions that will retain them in school.

“Girls are mostly prone to several social and magnetic forces that divert their focus from education like child marriages as well as early pregnancies.

“Looking at those challenges, chiefs, parents as well as stakeholders we need to collaborate with interventions that will keep them in schools as well as modify their behaviours.” Banda said.

Despite that, Banda applauded the Traditional Leaders, SMC, Mothergroup, PTA as well as people in the community for transforming Kamkodola School learners with good manners, regarding to the past experience.

She said “Pertaining to past years, our office used to register more complaints of learners bad behaviours at this school.

“As now it is a story of the past, this is an achievement to the school and this is describing that Kamkodola is ‘a newly transformed quality learning institution.”

According to the DEM, She hailed teachers, for efforts and mutual competent working relationship with learners chiefs, saying will uplift education standards in the community and help to develop the country in the attainment ofMalawi Vision 2063.

Assenting with DeM’s remarks, Senior Group Chigoneka, said for Malawi to be a prosperous country, leaders have to be in fore-front taking responsibilities, supporting education for all school going children as well as girls.

“We need to collaboratevely, innitiate with interventions among players. That will help to keep girls in schools, it is very sad to see young girls dropping out of school.

“It is a task of all of us, as well as entire community. We need to resuscitate girls interest in education in this community.” Chief chigoneka explained.

A standard seven learner, Janet Funenji thanked the school admnistration for organising the open day activity saying it has given a platform to showcase strides attained from her teacher.

” Iam grateful for the activity, it is a milestone to me and my school, this has really proved that our teachers spend sleepless nights, preparing what to deliver to learners. I will make sure to finish my education.” Funenji said.

The open day was held under a theme ‘ Promoting Education Towards Girls and Boys Regardless of thier Diversity’.

It is for the first time for the school and the entire community to conduct an open day event since the school was incepted in September 2007.

The open day hosted many chiefs from neighboring schools like, Mkomachi, Shire, Mtsiliza as well as Kalambo schools just to say afew.

Traditional dances, acrobatics, role plays, galley walk on lesson observations as well as poems spiced the event among other activities.