By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, February 11, Mana: Member of Parliament for Kasungu North Constituency, Mike Bango, says there is need to build more primary schools to cut short the long distances that learners in rural areas walk to access education.

Bango says the long distances to school are a huge obstacle that forces learners, especially in rural communities, not to start school while in recommended ages or to dropout altogether.

He was speaking on Monday when Kasungu District Council was handing over the construction of Chikaka Primary School project to Bonongwe Building Contractors at Kampaliro Village in the district’s north constituency.

“This area is surrounded by four primary schools but are all at far away distances that children, especially those in lower classes, cannot manage to walk.

“This is why we have been in discussions with authorities to build a school here so that we reduce the distances and also encourage children to go to school,” Bango said.

The K238 million project, funded by the World Bank through Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD), includes the construction of a school block with two classrooms, a staff office and toilets.

“Our wish was to include two staff houses in the project, but we will explore other sources of funding including the Constituency Development Fund to make sure that the school grows and have structures that could accommodate all the classes,” Bango said.

Director of Planning and Development at Kasungu District Council, Annie Zimba said the government is committed to constructing more primary schools to accord learners easy access to education by cutting short the distances that they walk to school.

“We expect the contractor to deliver the project within three months, meaning by April we should have the structures ready.

“This project is funded under GESD which is a performance based grant so as a council, we are working hard so that we continue getting these funds and deliver quality projects to the people of Kasungu,” Zimba said.

In his remarks, Group Village Head Kampaliro hailed the project saying it will assist in ensuring that children who dropped out of school due to long distances go back to class.

In the 2024/2025 financial year, the council received K923 million, part of which will go towards the school project, construction of Dunda bridge, Chisinga market, and staff houses at Kachitsa Primary School and Tchesa Extension and Planning Area (EPA).