By James Mwale

Ntchisi, May 23, Mana: The Connect a School Project under which Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is constructing computer laboratories in 75 schools is expected to retain learners who transfer from Kayoyo Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) to other schools to attain computer lessons.

Member of Parliament for Ntchisi North East, Olipa Chimangeni, made the remarks Wednesday at the school’s laboratory construction site where she presided over its ground breaking ceremony in the area of Senior Chief Nthondo.

She said students transfer to schools with computer labs where they would complete their computer syllabus leaving Kayoyo CDSS which had no laboratory despite having the competent teachers and enough books recommended for secondary school computer syllabus.

She said upon completion the learning facility will also serve as a motivation Centre for young girls in her constituency, through exposure to the internet, to be ambitious and work hard towards their goals.

“Most of our young girls have never been out of their villages, let alone visited Lilongwe. This has been a backward challenge because they have not been exposed to women living successful lives from whom to draw ambitions.

“This internet providing facility, upon completion, will expose them to a lot of women living lives of opulence around the country and the world, from whom they will draw motivation,” said Chimangeni.

Kayoyo CDSS Head Teacher, Jonathan Kaboni, echoed the legislator saying it is every teacher’s wish to have their students advance in life, and modern times, technology advancement is central to almost every aspect of a person’s life.

He said this wish has, for a long time, been frustrated by lack of a computer and internet service proving facility that is being constructed at his school.

“We thank MACRA for considering our school in the first phase of the project implementation. Not only our students will benefit from the facility, but also all households living within 200 metres of the facility who are expected to enjoy free internet for the first three years of its operation,” said Kaboni.

MACRA Procurement Manager, Alfred Chibwana, said the project was inspired by the realization that technology is no longer a necessity but a human right which is also central to achieving Malawi 2063 through digital inclusion by connecting people to the internet with education and business benefits.

He said 73 CDSSs, two secondary schools and one primary school have been targeted in the first phase, with 60 more schools to follow in the second phase.