By Damiano Thengo

Nkhotakota, October 11, Mana: Tongole Foundation has donated four reconstructed school blocks and a new teacher's house to Mwala wa Tongole Primary School in Nkhotakota District.

Speaking during the handover ceremony on Thursday, Tongole Foundation National Director Bentry Kalanga said the initiative aims to address the challenges faced by learners in remote areas who have to travel long distances to access education.

He emphasized the need for concerted efforts from stakeholders to support the school with desks and other learning materials.

"Quality education can only be achieved with quality infrastructure and teaching materials and that is why we have contributed our part, but more needs to be done. The classrooms lack desks, so we urge community members and partners to help fill this gap," said Kalanga.

Senior Group Village Headman Mchambwi, representing Senior Chief Mphonde, commended the project and called on the Department of Education to increase the number of teachers at the school to address the teacher-pupil ratio challenge.

Nkhotakota Principal Human Resource Management Officer, Francis Lwanda, said the department is working to address the teacher-pupil ratio problem throughout the district but was quick to commend Tongole Foundation for the infrastructure stating it is such support that the sector needs.

"We are aware of the teacher-pupil ratio problem not only at Tongole Primary School but throughout the district and as soon as the government authorizes us to employ more teachers, we will try our best to post some to Tongole Primary School,” said Lwanda.

The project, valued at K42 million, is part of the Tongole Foundation's efforts to improve education standards in the area.