By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, May 7, Mana: District Education Manager for Rumphi, Emmanuel Mwalirino says pass rate for Primary School Leaving Certificate Examinations (PSLCE) for Old Salawe Education Zone in Rumphi has jumped to 88 percent since a teachers development centre (TDC) worth K27.3 million was built in the area.

The zone, mostly accessed through Lake Malawi is one of the hardest areas to reach in Rumphi. Pass rate has since increased from 59 percent in 2021 before the TDC was built to 88 percent in 2023 after the TDC built with Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funds was handed over in 2022.

Speaking Monday in an interview, Mwalirino said teachers in the area lacked conducive environment where they could conduct professional orientation meetings besides sharing teaching practices.

“There was no office for primary education advisor (PEA). They had no resource centre where teachers could display their various teaching and learning resources. The area also lacked library services where both teachers and learners could access such services.

The TDC has improved teaching and learning. Teachers from different schools in Tcharo now have an office in which they meet planning, sharing notes on teaching and standardising zonal examinations which have improved the performance of learners,” said Mwalirino.

Councillor for Tcharo Ward, Starch Galatiya Kondowe said he was pleased that learners in the area are also benefiting from having the TDC.

“A TDC is where teachers meet and share skills to enhance teaching and learning skills. I am very happy that such an office is now in my area. I am looking forward to even better performance by in the subsequent PSLCE,” said Galatiya.

Director of Planning and Development for Rumphi District Council, Frank Mfune said GESD projects have helped the council to improve service delivery in health, education and agriculture sectors among others.

GESD is a performance based Malawi Government project funded by the World Bank.

Tcharo Ward has 10 schools with 1836 learners and 42 teachers.