By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, March 8, Mana: Principal Secretary of Basic Education in the Ministry of Education Dr. Rachel Chimbwete Phiri has urged students against damaging school infrastructure as means of resolving misunderstandings, saying this is detrimental to provision of quality education in the country.

She was speaking in an interview on Thursday in Dowa when World Vision Malawi handed over a library and a girls’ hostel constructed at Mdika Community Day Secondary School in Senior Chief Kayembe.

Phiri said government is doing everything possible to ensure access to quality education to all, but said it is unfortunate that cases of school infrastructure vandalism continue to happen out of issues that can be resolved with dialogue.

“It is unfortunate that sometimes when leaners have grievances, instead of using negotiation procedures that are viable, they resort to vandalism to send their message. This is bad and must be condemned in the strongest terms.

“Government, stakeholders, well-wishers are all trying to facilitate conducive learning environments. My call will be to our young ones to own these facilities, protect and secure them, because these contribute to their education and their future,” she said.

Phiri then thanked World Vision for the donation saying the library will help leaners with their academic studies and foster a reading culture.

The girls’ hostel which is equipped with beds and mattresses to accommodate 56 learners, she said will ease challenges of long-distance journeys for girls to and from the school.

“When girls travel long distances to school, they are prone to dangers such as rape. They also get tired and fail to concentrate on their studies. Coupled with domestic chores at home, all these contribute to high dropout rates. We are therefore optimistic that these challenges here are now over,” she said.

In his remarks World Vision National Director Francis Dube said the organization is committed to uplifting education standards in the country subject to that the organization has so far helped to put around 100,000 students in conducive learning amenities.

He said the donation at Mdika which costed Mk300 million excluding community contribution, came about considering challenges the school faced.

“Some girls used to travel 16 kilometers to and from the school which is dangerous. So, we thought of coming in to help with a girls’ hostel. We hope this will keep the girls in a safe and supervised environment.

“On top of the library, there is also electricity so that learners can study at night and a water system for hygiene. So, we are excited about all this,” he said.

Dowa District Council chairperson Mayamiko Kambewa thanked World Vision for the donation which he said complements the councils’ efforts in construction of school infrastructure like classroom blocks amongst others.

 A Form 4 student Grace Simeon said the infrastructure will motivate learners to work hard in their studies. She then asked other organizations to emulate what World Vision has done and reach out to other girls, learners who are in similar situations.