By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, September 11, Mana: Secretary for Education, Mangani Chilala Katundu on Tuesday called for support from various development to help some struggling institutions that are in hard-to-reach areas.

He made the call when Deputy Minister of Education, Nancy Chaola Mdooko, visited Lulwe Community Day Secondary School in Nsanje located in the mountainous area not less than 20 kilometres from Marka, under Traditional Authority Ndamera.

The school which is among many other struggling education facilities in the country has serious water challenges among others.

“We are working hard and giving our best effort to have such challenges like that of Lulwe dealt with. We call upon well-wishers, individuals and our partners to render their support wherever possible. We hope that our efforts at the ministry will bear some fruits,” Katundu said.

Chairperson for the Area Development Committee (ADC), Sumaili Mavutike, said several initiatives including to drill a borehole close to the school have failed by various borehole drilling companies.

“As a community together with the Parents Teacher Association (PTA), we resolved that all students must carry a five litre bucket of water as they come to school which they would use for drinking and other hygiene uses,” he said.

According to the school’s Deputy Headteacher, Samuel Luwisi, Lulwe CDSS was established in 2017 and has a current enrollment of 205.

Apart from issue of water, the school lacks enough classrooms, desks and needs a laboratory to allow students to study science subjects.

On her part, the Division Manager for the South West Education Division (SWED), Mary Mmangisa, thanked the deputy minister for her visit to the school describing such visits as rare dedications.

“We feel energized as a division that our seniors have heard our concerns,” she said.