By Lisa Malango

Newyork, September 24, MANA: First Lady, Madame Monica Chakwera has said that education obstacles pose a significant threat to the future of Malawi's youth, as merely 17 percent have access to secondary education, due to factors such as poverty, long distances to schools, and inadequate infrastructure.

She made the remarks during a summit of the global platform for First ladies and gentlemen at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, USA.

Madame Chakwera drew attention to the critical risks that teenage pregnancies and child marriages present to the prospects of young girls, with alarming statistics revealing that 29 percent of girls aged 15-19 are pregnant or have already given birth, and 42 percent are married before reaching 18 years old, stating that these circumstances lead to school dropouts and perpetuate the cycle of poverty.

The First Lady stated that youth unemployment intensifies poverty and inequality in Malawi, as many lack the requisite skills for the job market, thereby impeding economic participation and growth.

“Enhancing the quality of education is paramount in overcoming these challenges by improving adolescent health, reducing incidences of child marriages, and fostering youth participation in the economy," Madame Chakwera said

Additionally, Madame Chakwera highlighted the initiatives of the Shaping Our Future Foundation in Malawi, which focuses on advancing girls' education, empowering women economically, and advocating for sexual and reproductive health to effectively address these pressing issues.

She mentioned that the Foundation's efforts have already benefitted over 2,000 girls to remain in school and facilitated 25 girls attending public universities.

Chakwera stressed the necessity for more initiatives to prevent school dropouts, such as expanding national scholarship programmes and establishing hostels in rural areas to provide secure accommodation for girls.

Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of enhancing health services and access to sexual and reproductive health services, in conjunction with economic empowerment programmes for women, to deter child marriages and encourage the retention of girls in school.

She also pointed out the significance of investing in skills training and agricultural innovation for the youth, supported by the President's initiative on environmentally sustainable large-scale farms, which will create opportunities in agribusiness saying this will require additional support in the form of matching grants and loans.