By Tikondane Vega

Phalombe, March 17, Mana: Director of Education and Sports in Phalombe, Steve Charles Banda says the coming in of the Malawi Education Reform Programme (MERP) with new classrooms in the district has increased the number of learners in primary schools, which currently stands at 155,000.

Banda said with support from MERP the district is planning to construct 312 classroom blocks of which over 50 have already been completed while others are in different stages under different phases.

He was speaking on Monday during an interview with Malawi News Agency in the district saying class enrollment in primary schools continues to grow each passing day due to the construction of new classrooms.

“I have to admit that previously while some children were learning in the classrooms, their counterparts were being taught under trees. This made both the lives of learners and teachers difficult due to different weather patterns.

“When it’s rainy season classes were being suspended while when the sun is too much both learners and teachers were failing to concentrate due to heat. But the coming in of MERP has solved all these challenges,” said Banda.

He said MERP has also provided the district with 33 sanitation blocks, which has led to improved health and increased school attendance leading to better learning outcomes.

Banda added, “Interestingly, knowing that Phalombe is a disaster-prone area, all the infrastructure being constructed are those that can withstand disasters. We are talking of resilient buildings that have certain features that help them withstand natural and human-made disasters.”

Head Teacher for Migowi 1 Primary School, Jack Muhura said MERP Project has revolutionized the learning experience for learners at the school, especially those who were previously studying in open spaces and that the construction of sanitation rooms and change rooms has increased attendance at the school.

“We are very thankful to the government for providing us with one classroom block and one sanitation block. These are model buildings that have also beautified our place despite reducing overcrowding in classes and toilets,” said Muhura adding the school has close to 4, 000 learners now due to the availability of classes.

Meanwhile, Dyna Mapesi a standard 7 learner at the school said the coming in of the new classes has reduced congestion at the school while asking authorities to continue bringing such projects.

MERP has several components, which include a school leadership programme targeting school leaders across the country, the construction of sanitary rooms, hiring of auxiliary teachers, and supporting administration of the Common Zonal test, among others aimed at improving primary education.