CDSS without desks for 18 years

Gumba Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Sub-Traditional Authority (ST/A) Gumba in Mchinji has been operating without desks since 1998.

The school’s head teacher Chrispine Chasowa said apart from lacking desks, the school also has no human and material resources.

“Despite it being at secondary level, students have never sat on a desk here since 1998. Apart from that, there are only three teachers here. So, it is a big challenge,” he said.

Chasowa said this on Wednesday when Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL) donated 50 desks worth K1.5 million to the school.

PIL general manager Enwell Kadango said the donation sought to provide a conducive environment for students as one way of encouraging them to concentrate on education.

He said PIL was moved when the head teacher informed them that many students selected to the CDSS ended up shunning it.

“We heard that students were shunning their places after being selected to pursue their secondary education at the school and, sadly, many of these were girls. So, we decided to lend a hand,” said Kadango.

He said Kadango PIL will reach out to more schools and benefit more people in a quest to fill the gaps in the sector.n