By Solister Mogha

Zomba, December 1:  Mana: Members of Parliament and Ward Councilors in Zomba District collectively supported self-boarding in primary schools citing it as a positive move towards improving the performance of learners in rural schools though education authorities in the district say it is against Education Policy.

This comes after the education authorities in the district cautioned some primary schools to abolish self-boarding’s, describing the arrangement as something outside the education policy.

However, the Members of Parliament and Ward Councilors said self-boarding is the only solution to improve learner performance in rural schools.

Speaking during a Full Council meeting, Councilor, Douglas January of Chiphoola Ward said it was sad that the education authorities discourage self-boarding yet communities value the arrangement hoping that it would help their children improve their performance.

“Banning self-boarding in primary schools is one of the things that is bringing education in the district down. Why would they stop something that was helping our learners,” he said.

Member of Parliament for Zomba Chisi Constituency, Mark Botomani said it would have been better for the education authorities to guide how schools should manage self-boarding rather than banning them entirely.

“If the arrangement is helping the community, I feel it would have been good if this continued,” he added.

Parliamentarian for Zomba Lisanjala, Dr William Susuwele Banda concurred with Botomani, observing that, “Sticking to policies would sometimes destroy the education of children in a rural setup,

“Not all the policies work. Sometimes we use what we know would help learners even if it is contrary to what the policy says,” Banda added.

Director of Education, Youth and Sports, Thomas Mbwembwe said the decision by his office is in accordance with the Education Policy which does not allow primary schools to do self-boarding’s.

He explained that there are several reasons why self-boarding is not accepted in primary schools citing, accommodation, welfare and security of learners.

“Most of the learners reside in classrooms that do not have secured doors, or windows on top of having anyone to look after them. Teachers are forced to look after learners which is not a recommended arrangement,

“For your information, there is zero security on learners and that poses a threat, particularly to a girl child,” the director said, adding that his office was only implementing what is in the Education Policy.

Public Relations Officers in the Ministry of Education, Mphatso Nkuonera asked for more time to comment on the matter.