By Beni Bamusi

Thyolo, May 7, Mana: In an attempt to ease mobility of teachers in hard to reach areas in Thyolo, Ministry of Education, through Malawi Education Reform Programme (MERP), has donated 20 push bicycles worth K4.5 million to 20 schools to improve female teachers’ mobility in the remote parts of the district.

Speaking when handing over the bicycles on Monday at Thyolo District Education Offices, District Commissioner Hudson Kuphanga said the initiative shows that government attach greater importance to girl child education and welfare of teachers in the remotest parts of the country.

“This will ease mobility among mentor teachers considering that the terrain in Thyolo is challenging. Teachers in the rural areas will now find it easy to take a greater role in girl child education,” he added.

Kuphanga noted that Thyolo has higher levels of child labour that need some intervention to save children from the exploitation.

“Thyolo has got high levels of child labour because of tea estates hence the need to work with commitment to take the girl child back to school. We should have more girls educated in Thyolo and this is a good starting point,” said Kuphanga.

A mentor teacher, Tiyanjane Kangadeya from Bwalidzo Primary School, said the bicycles will ease mobility among teachers that are required to visit girls in their localities.

She pledged to use the bicycle for intended purposes, adding she will ensure to inspire girls at her school and surrounding areas to aim higher to realise their dream goals of becoming productive citizens in various professions other than ending up working as casual labourers in tea estates.

Among other things, MERP is increasing the hardship allowance of teachers and improving distribution of female teachers in remote schools.