By Yamikani Yapuwa

Thyolo, August 3, Mana: Thyolo District Council Chairperson, Petro Bowman, has called for concerted efforts to promote education and protection of all children in the district.

Bowman made the call Friday during commemoration of the Day of the African Child, urging every community member to contribute towards the cause.

“We must ensure that all children are sent to school to attain education without gender bias as well as disability,” said Bowman.

Bowman also called upon traditional and religious leaders, and all relevant stakeholders, to play a pivotal role in safeguarding children by protecting them from all forms of abuse that can negatively impact their well-being and education.

He emphasized that protecting children from abuse is not just a legal obligation but a moral responsibility, crucial for their development and future success.

“We call upon the justice system to give tough punishments to those abusing children in any way,” he said.

He, therefore, encouraged teachers to be innovative and supportive, creating an engaging and inclusive learning environment that caters for the diverse needs of all students.

Acting Director of Environment and Natural Resources for Thyolo, Mirriam Yona, said the council is determined to ensure all children have access to quality education, a commitment reflected in various ongoing initiatives.

“One significant effort is the construction of classroom blocks across several schools in the district through the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project. This initiative aims at providing students with a conducive learning environment which is essential for their academic success.

“In addition to the GESD project, the Malawi Education Reform Program (MERP) is also playing a crucial role by funding construction of low-cost school blocks,” said Yona.

Yona said the combined efforts from both projects underscore the council's unwavering resolve to uplift the educational standards which is fundamental to the overall objective of ensuring that every child receives quality education; thereby, improving the educational outcomes across the district.

A learner at Folopensi Primary School, Alfred Mtameri, lamented the unavailability of special needs teachers in most schools; noting that such affects education of learners with disabilities.

Mtameri also bemoaned abuses that children experience at the hands of step parents due to the high levels of broken marriages in the area.