By Lexa Kalumbu

Lilongwe, March 8 MANA: In a bid to improve knowledge and understanding of a subject area which prepares every person for a better future; allowing every individual to feel prepared to take on new challenges, Health wise has embarked on an education initiative called Maphunziro Mbambande which is being funded by World Vision under the Tiwerenge 365 project. 

Health wise Organization under the Maphunziro Mbambande initiative introduced quiz competitions among students from Standard 3 up to standard 8 in public primary schools as well as Form 1 up to Form 4 students in government secondary schools to build confidence, come out of their comfort zone as well as have a positive impact on their self-esteem.

The students are given materials to read and study such as newspapers and books; each according to their level of study and it is from these materials that questions for the quiz generate from. 

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) Health wise Executive Director, Tendai Chidzero, said that most students especially in government schools lack a reading culture and do not find class work entertaining as well as appealing hence the initiative.

She said the Maphunziro Mbambande’s motive is to mainly handle cases of illiteracy as well as promoting a reading culture among the primary and secondary school students in government schools across the country.  

“There is motivation coming from parents and guardians of the students who are now following their children’s performance unlike in the past where they were not following, students who dropped out of school are now back to school and most schools have introduced reading programs and sessions in order for their schools to do well in the competition”, Chidzero explained.

Task force Chairperson of the programme for Bwanje area, Masauko Chadaine, who is also a teacher at Kampheko Primary School in Ntcheu, one of the participatory schools in the programme, said, Maphunziro project has helped to increase pass rate among students because they have now developed a reading culture.

“The materials that the students are being given to read in preparation for the quiz are from their respective academics, as such, students read a lot so that they can do better in the competition; when writing examinations, they encounter the very same things they read in preparation for the quiz hence an improved performance”, Chadaine said.   

The competition starts from the Area Program (AP) level to the district level before it gets to the regional level which is the last level of the competition.