By Robert Nayeja

Nsanje, December 19, Mana: Senior Chief Tengani of Nsanje has expressed concern over increased girl child school drop out in the district.

Tengani made the remarks on Monday at Group Village Head Bande in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Mbenje where Mbenje civic education hub engaged the community on Malawi 2063 Agenda.

Tengani said the district is not doing well in terms of educating a girl child as the number of girls going to school keep decreasing in every upper class.

“We have classes with less than 10 girls and illiteracy levels are still high, which is an indication that as a district we are not doing fine in terms of girl child education,” he said.

The Senior Chief who is also girl child Champion in the district said he was delighted to see community civic education hub taking the issue of Malawi 2063 to the community saying this will popularize the agenda.

“Among others, Agenda 2063 is focusing on mindset change where by education is key. When girl child is educated it means a lot to development. We cannot talk of development without empowering a girl child to complete her studies,” he added.

He therefore commended Mbenje civic education hub for sensitizing communities on girl child education which is in line with Malawi government plans.

“As a district, we have not performed well in all national examinations previously, but with this initiative of mindset change I hope we will yield positive results in terms of outcomes,” said Tengani.

Speaking after the sensitization campaign, Deputy Director responsible for civic education in the Ministry of Local Government, Lawrence Ussein said civic education hub has potential to reduce early marriages in the country.

 “The hub is constituted by members of the community because they are in a better position to know the challenges that are contributing to girl child school dropout in their areas. So, the hub can articulate those and change mindset.

“The meeting has been organized to discourage parents allowing their children to get married before they finish their studies,” he said.

Ussein therefore said the hub which is mandated to civic educate communities on various issues can help to realize Malawi 2063 agenda.