By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, January 22, Mana: Salima District Youth Officer, Jessie Mwansambo has advised parents to take interest in their children's education by constantly checking their school notebooks for progress and performance.

Mwansambo made the call on Monday during a donation at Nakondwa Community Based Organization (CBO) located in the area of Senior Chief Kalonga in the district sponsored by a British national, John Midgley, who assisted 75 learners with note books and pens.

Mwansambo emphasized on the need for collaborative efforts to educate children.

She said stakeholders, such as Midgley, are doing a commendable job towards technical expertise where as parents have cross cutting roles of providing and also supervising progress of children's performance.

"It is worrisome to note that performance of children in the district has been below par for some time and this might be attributed to cultural beliefs such as early marriages, child labour in some sectors such as fishing and other businesses. These malpractices need to be curbed. We need to hold hands," she said.

She called upon well-wishers to collaborate with the district council in implementing different projects in the education sector.

Director of Nakondwa CBO, Wise Balakasi said they have made the donation to encourage the learners on their education journey.

"As one way of promoting education in the country, we are lucky to be partnering with Midgley who has been supporting early childhood development in Senior Chief Kalonga.

"Educational materials are very important and not all parents can afford to provide for their children, therefore assisting the learners with educational materials will go a long way in smoothening their education journey," he said.

A standard eight learners at Nakondwa Primary School, Chifundo Banda Daudi expressed gratitude for the ten notebooks he received saying it is timely considering that he is in an examination class which requires having enough school materials to capture class notes.