By Eranivey Temani

Lilongwe, May 25, Mana: Youth more especially girls in Traditional Authority(TA) Kabudula in Lilongwe have been urged to take their studies seriously in order for them to be productive citizens in the near future.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Lilongwe North, Monica Chang’anamuno made the call Friday during the ground breaking ceremony of the ICT lab construction at Mikundi Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) which government through MACRA are constructing across the country.

Chang’anamuno who is Minister of Mining said it was only well educated people who could contribute positively towards the development of the country.

“This country needs a lot of educated people who can foster different developments. For example, our mining sector needs people who are professionally trained to work in mining sites which are expected to open very soon, so you must work hard,” she said.

Mikundi Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) Head Teacher, Ernest Banda said it was sad that many girls in the area are dropping out of school due to early marriages and unplanned pregnancies.

He said that, “In 2023, only eight girls out of 33 wrote Malawi School Leaving Certificate Examinations (MSCE) due to early marriages and unplanned pregnancies and this is quite disappointing to us as teachers as well as parents.”

Banda asked church and traditional leaders to hold hands and come up with by-laws and stiff penalties that would deter girls to go for early marriages and remain in school.

Senior Group Village Head Guta thanked government for the ICT lab construction at the school saying it would assist learners to have access to more information on their studies.

Guta asked her subordinates and parents to make sure that all children more especially girls around their areas are going to school and not sending them at the market to sell merchandise.

She said that, “For several years I have been on earth, I never expected that this kind of project will ever reach to our community, but now a foundation has been laid, I am hopeful that our children will be in a digital world,”

A Form 4 student at the school, Sarah Ngulube encouraged her fellow students more especially girls to be very careful and avoid rushing into marriages.