Community in need of primary school

Community members at Kasangani in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mpherembe in Mzimba District have expressed concern that their children walk six kilometres to the nearest school.

Lucy Mkandawire, a parent, said her child finds it hard to walk such a distance.

“The distance leaves him exhausted. In the end, he fails to go through his books after classes,” she said.

Kasangani Primary School acting head teacher  Lydia Lombo said there was high dropout at the school due to  distance challenges.

“We experience high dropout at the school due to distance. This year, about 21 pupils have stopped attending school,” she said.

Lombo said there was need for authorities to open a school at Ntchiya which is near the affected villages.

A Standard Seven learner, Fiskani Chasiya, said his performance in class was poor due to fatigue.

“Some of us come from far which is a setback in our education,” he said.

The community has since requested for a school from Small Producers Development and Transporters Association (Sprodeta)which is implementing Hope for Child project in the area that seeks to promote education.

Sprodeta executive secretary Allen Kumwenda said his organisation has taken note of the communities’ plea.

“Through Hope for a Child project we aim to address issues such as school dropout. By 2023, we want school dropout to end. So we will consider their request,” he said.