By Tracy Mtegha

Mzuzu, May 15, Mana: Malawi Education Reform Programme (MERP) intends to construct 10, 900 school blocks in primary schools in Mzuzu and across the country in order to provide conducive teaching and learning environment

In an interview on Tuesday in Mzuzu, Construction Desk Officer for the programme, Perhaps Nyungu said construction of the blocks were already under progress in Mzuzu City targeting 24 schools with a block each.

“We borrowed this concept from Malawi Education School Improvement Plan (MESIP) and currently construction 10 school blocks are under construction in Mzuzu City.

This initiative was hatched as a solution to high learner classroom ratio between Standard 1 to 4 so that we create conducive learning environment thereby enhancing the interest in learners to go to school,” he said.

Shift Y Head Teacher at Chiputula Primary School in Mzuzu, Mazganga Banda said the project would reduce congestion of learners in classrooms.

“We have 3,460 learners and 56 teachers which means one teacher serves 70 to 80 learners in a class, yet we are supposed to have at least 60 learners for one teacher,” he said.

A Standard 8 learner at the school, Modester Chikwanje applauded government for the project saying the initiative would boost the learners’ interest in education.

“As a leaner, I will make sure that I take care of the classrooms for it is a privilege to us, as beneficiaries of this project,” she promised.

Some of the schools which have already benefited from the program in Mzuzu City include, Geisha, Zolozolo, Kawuwa, Chiputula, Katoto and Ching’ambo

The Project started in March 2022 with financial support from World Bank and is expected to be finished December 2025