By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, April 26, Mana: People around Malambo in Senior Chief Dzoole in Dowa have applauded Dowa district council for starting the construction of Malambo primary classroom block, saying this will improve the provision of quality education at the school.

One of the community members, Daniel Joseph from Msopa Village, said on Thursday after the council launched construction of the classroom block that lack of enough classroom blocks at the school jeopardizes lessons as classrooms are congested.

He said the coming in of an additional school block, which is being constructed under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) to the tune of K134 million, will put to an end the problem.

"There are a lot of learners here, and one class could carry close to a hundred children. This affects lessons because it means a teacher has to look at more learners than recommended.

"But the new school block will ensure that teachers attend to a lesser number of learners in class and every learner will be getting the required attention from the teachers. I believe this will improve learners' performance at the school," said Joseph.

He also said the school block will help protect learners from natural elements, as such classes would not be disturbed for example when the rain comes.

"And even parents would be assured that their children are learning in a safe environment. For these, as a community we are thankful because there are other equally deserving schools where this classroom block could have been constructed," added Joseph.

The block will have two classrooms and is expected to serve 120 learners.

In an interview, Maligerita Raphael from Soko village urged parents to send their children to school.

"The classroom block will be useless if parents and guardians do not send their children to school. So as much as we are celebrating this development, we should also remind parents to ensure they send their children to school," said Raphael.

She however asked for more teacher houses at the school.

Councillor for Dzoole North Ward, Richard Kassanje, said it is important to uplift education in the area as through education, the area could produce citizens who can help to bring development to the area.

He then committed to work with the council by bringing other developments to the area.

Council chairperson Richard Nkhono Songeya, speaking during the launch, said the council will continue to ensure that developments happening within the communities are those the people themselves need.