By Fostina Mkandawire and Lekereni Chinkhota

Salima, October 2, Mana: JCM Power has embarked on a project to construct a secondary school in Group Village Headman Kanzimbe in Salima district to promote education in the area and ease accessibility of quality education under their corporate social responsibility initiative.

Speaking during an inspection of the development on Wednesday, Community Liaison Officer for JCM Power, Levison Masamba said so far two classroom blocks and toilets have been constructed at the site.

He said after noticing the challenge that children were facing in the area to access quality education, the company thought it wise to assist with the school.

"Students from this community are travelling long distances almost 15 kilometres from here to access nearby secondary schools ," he said.

He added: "The community unanimously agreed to have a secondary school constructed in the area, to promote accessibility of education and to increase the number of students accessing secondary education in the area."

Masamba added that the company plans to add more classroom blocks in due course and other education facilities to provide the best education to the students of the community.

"We have now constructed classroom blocks and toilets and plan to construct teacher's houses by next year. This year we will also be procuring desks for the school,” he said.

JCM Power has done several restoration activities to the benefit of the community including compensating the locals to buy new land, tractors to plough the new land, provision of needed fertilizer, soil testing and provision of livestock to enable households meet their needs.

Principal Education Officer for Salima District Education Office, Eliam Banda commended JCM power for the initiative, citing that long distance to access education was a challenge for students in the area.

"We appreciate such initiatives which show that stakeholders are taking interest in promoting education in the district. Government appreciates efforts from stakeholders because good collaboration and coordination yields more fruits," he said.

The newly constructed school blocks and toilets are worth K114 million.

The opening of the school will depend on when the education division office will select students to commence classes at the school.