Lack of school fees forces Mchinji boy out of school

A 16-year-old Form One learner at Mchinji Secondary School is helplessly watching his bright future slipping through his fingers because her mother cannot raise school fees.

Despite being bright in class, Mayamiko Paul, who comes from Misi Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mavwere in Mchinji District, is not reporting to school during the second term as his widowed mother is failing to raise K48 000 for his school fees.

In an interview on Friday, Paul’s mother, Nataria Uledi, said after her child got selected, she raised the first term’s fees through her land which she leased to a friend for three years.

“Now, I cannot do anything as I am poor. I am even failing to find food to feed my family,” she said.

Uledi said she has, so far, visited a number of institutions for support, but to no avail.

She said life has been miserable for the family since Mayamiko’s father died.

“Since his primary education at Kabzala Primary School, my son has been earning position one in every end of term examination until he got selected to Mchinji Secondary School,” she said.

In a separate interview, Mayamiko said his life has been rendered hopeless as he cannot figure out a future without education.

He said he has been helping his mother to do some piecework to raise the fees, but it is not helping.

“I’m appealing to well-wishers to support me,” he said, adding that those willing to help can reach him through the school’s head teacher Harry James Kamwaza.

In an interview, Kamwaza confirmed Mayamiko’s situation, but added that the school has over 15 students who are failing to pay fees and are just staying at home.

“This is a big challenge at our school,” he said, calling upon well-wishers for help.