Every child in Malawi has the right to quality education according the republic constitution of 1994. This is also affirmed by the United Nations assembly and given emphasis through the Sustainable development Goals with education on 4.
However, in most Malawian communities especially in rural areas have limited access to quality education due to long distances to schools, inadequate teaching and learning materials, and largely shortage of qualified personnel.
This is why Mzuzu Entrepreneur hub joined efforts with government providing quality education constructing a multi-million Community day secondary school in Chipunga community in Nkhatabay district with funding from TX Foundation. The school is expected to accommodate over 160 students covering form one up to four.
Speaking in an interview, the Executive director for Mzuzu E-hub, Wangiwe Joanna Kambuzi said all players involved in in the education sector should take a leading role in improving the quality of education. “About 80 percent of our population in Malawi lives in rural communities and they are usually underserved in all social aspects. This is why we decided to take this project to chipunga community.”
“The school will reduce the distance that students cover to attend school in the next community which is more than 30 KM going and back to Chikwina CDSS,” said Kambuzi. She also narrated that students are exposed to more danger due to be distances and especially for the girl child.
Commenting on this, human rights activist Madalitso Mwenda said this will go a long way promoting the economic empowerment of communities through skills and knowledge. He further narrated that the new facility will motivate students to stay in school hence reducing cases of early marriages in the community.
Once fully operational, the school is also expected to benefit students gain entrepreneurial and vocational skills that Mzuzu entrepreneur hub expects to impart in partnership with Technical, Entrepreneurial, and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) which will help in reducing unemployment among young people. The school is expected to start its operations in September 2019 and to start with the form one class to be selected from the 2019 standard 8 maneb candidates.