Glory Msowoya

Blantyre, January 24, Mana: First Lady Monica Chakwera has called on private sector, both local and international, to rally behind transformative initiatives aimed at promoting equality in education.

She was speaking on Wednesday during the Shaping our Future Foundation (SOFF) 2023 Top Malawi School Certificate of Education Performers Award Ceremony that took place at Blantyre Secondary School.

The event was aimed at awarding outstanding students benefiting from SOFF scholarships in different schools across the country.

Chakwera said there is need for concerted effort from all stakeholders to empower both girls and boys as one way of fostering an environment where they can thrive academically.

She said the call for inclusivity resonates strongly with a commitment of ensuring that education reaches girls with disabilities, those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and those residing in remotest areas.

“As partners, we must create an enabling environment that equally encourages girls and boys to attend school, stay in school, and thrive academically. As First Lady of the Republic of Malawi, I pledge to lead and support efforts of advancing girls' education while supporting vulnerable boys.

“Equal chances for boys and girls will yield equal performance, as witnessed today, with two students achieving high points regardless of gender,” she said.

In her remarks, Minister of Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima commended SOFF scholarships, praising its alignment with government efforts of supporting underprivileged students across the country.

“We have witnessed vulnerable girls and boys benefitting from SOFF scholarships. This signifies significant positive outcomes for our country.

"As Malawi, we allocate a budget to assist needy students. However, on our own, we cannot reach out to a broader spectrum of students. We earnestly seek additional partners to collaborate with us and alleviate the number of students in need," she said.

Representing SOFF donors, Country Director for Plan International, Mwape Mulumbi, expressed her organization’s unwavering commitment to support the youth through SOFF.

Mulumbi emphasized that mere monetary support is insufficient to truly motivate a child. Instead, she stressed the importance of incorporating inspiring role and innovative models to ignite the flame of motivation within each student.

“I am urging you to see education as a journey that extends beyond the confines of secondary schooling. Go and continue working hard in tertiary education, persevere in your academic pursuits and would like to remind you that your efforts today lay the foundation for a better tomorrow, " she said.

Zainab Mustafa, speaking on behalf of the SOFF beneficiaries, expressed deep gratitude to the First Lady for the timely and impactful sponsorship that has significantly shaped their educational pursuits.

In a passionate plea, Mustafa emphasized the importance of sustaining these crucial programmes to ensure more individuals should benefit from the transformative power of education.

More than 20 students received laptops, school bags, and financial support as part of their awards.

Since its inception in August 2020, the foundation has awarded over 2,500 scholarships, and it is poised to extend scholarships to more than 1,000 students in the current year.