By Salome Gangire

Neno, April 24, Mana: Learners at Nandzanga Primary School in Neno District have hailed Neno District Council for constructing a K35 million classroom block under Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) which will accommodate learners in senior classes that used to travelled long distances to access education.

Before the construction of the school block, standard 7 and 8 learners were travelling up to 10 kilometres to another school to access education as Nandzanga was a junior primary school that only enrolled standard 1 to 5 learners due to limited classrooms.

A standard 8 learner, Gift Mphalumo said on Wednesday that before the construction of the school block, most learners were not performing well in class due to fatigue as result of long distances.

“We are now learning in a good environment but also not travelling long distances which has greatly improved our performances in class,” Mphalumo said.

Nandzanga School Head teacher, Patuma Mkango said the new classroom block has provided a better learning environment and was sure this will continue improving leaners performance.

She disclosed that the school registered a 100 percent pass rate in last year’s Primary School Leaving Certificates of Education (PSLCE) examinations.

Mkango added that all the 22 candidates that sat for PSLCE examinations passed and were selected to various secondary schools including Community Day Secondary Schools.

“In the past standard 6 learners were transferred to other schools which were far away. This also affected their performance because they were travelling long distances,” she added.

In the meantime standard 6 learners are accommodated under a shelter used for school feeding programme which members of the community built to bridge the gap.

According to school authorities, a new block is under construction with funds from Malawi Education Reform Programme to accommodate the standard 6 learners.  

Chief Education Officer (CEO) for Neno, Sonnex Likharuwe said the council was committed to provide conducive learning environment for quality education

He added said that the new school block has helped to upgrade the junior school into a full primary school which has also turned the school into an examination centre for standard 8 learners.

The CEO added that the additional block also minimised school dropouts in senior classes as leaners (in senior classes) from Joliji village access education with short distance.

“In the past, most learners were dropping out of school in senior classes as they were travelling long distances to attend schools to nearby schools which are far,” he said.

Director of Planning and Development for Neno District Council, Charles Lomoni said construction of Nandzanga Primary School block supported by GESD has reduced learner-classroom ratio.

“The classroom block has also managed to improve learning environment as this has been a dream for the district. Our district has not been performing well in the past,” he said.