By Tikondane Vega

Lilongwe, March 19, Mana: Mikalati, Mpeni and Naminyanga junior primary schools in Thyolo district will soon be upgraded to full primary schools following the completion of new classrooms that government, through the Malawi Education Reform Programme (MERP), has constructed.

Authorities have described the development as a positive stride as far as access to education is concerned.

Speaking to the Malawi News Agency (Mana), Tuesday, at Mikalati Junior Primary School, Flocy Kapyola, Primary Education Advisor (PEA), for Luchenza, said the construction of the new classes is timely as learners were travelling long distances to access standard 7 and 8 after standard 6 at the school.

Kapyola said the development will also reduce congestion in the nearest schools such as Luchenza Primary School, which mostly was used as a referral school.

“Even learner to teacher ratio will be reduced. The construction of these classes will also end double-shift system of learning that was happening due to the shortage of classes.

“We commend government for the provision of these classes because schools like Mikalati have been operating as junior for so long and deserve the promotion. It is my wish that this should be extended to other primary schools,” she said.

Concurring with Kapyola, Fancy Ngulo, PEA for Mpinji Zone said Mpeni and Naminyanga in his area will also soon be upgraded to full primary schools due to the completion of classes constructed under MERP.

Ngulo said the development has also reduced congestion and shortened the distance learners were travelling to access further education after standard 6 in these schools.

“Thyolo has poor topography as such many travel long distances, crossing rivers, forests as well as hills to access education. The new classes are a game changer for our children in this zone. Children will no longer be learning under trees,” he said.

On his part, Director of Education, Youths and Sports in the district, Rabson Kawalala, said Thyolo has benefited a lot with MERP as the district has received 254 classes from government of which many have been completed.

Kawalala said the construction is being done in 58 primary schools across the district making the learning environment more conducive for learners.

“MERP has brought huge changes in the district. I applaud government for considering us here in Thyolo and this is no mean achievement. We are looking forward to more developments and ready to work,” he said.

MERP is a project undertaken by the Government of Malawi, aimed at enhancing the learning environment within public primary schools with a budget of USD $210 million and is being executed from 2021 to 2025, supported by the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) across all 34 educational districts in Malawi.