Mangochi’s poor education status riles 2nd Deputy Speaker

Second Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Aisha Mambo Adams on Friday summoned all primary school head teachers from her Mangochi  Nkungulu Constituency to discuss challenges affecting education in the area.

The area, Chimwala Zone, which has 17 primary schools, has for the past two academic years failed to send learners to public secondary schools.

Instead, the zone had its learners selected to Changali and Chimwala community day secondary schools (CDSSs). Nonetheless, the zone became last from the list of 22 zones.

During the meeting, Adams dared the head teachers to reveal problems that are paralysing education in the area.

Taking the floor, David Juma, head teacher for Mpumbe Primary School blamed parents and guardians for not investing in their wards’ education, saying most parents opt to send their children to the lake to fish and girls to sell the fishes and other merchandise.

He also blamed chiefs for failing to enforce the by-laws they established to help children to go to school.

On her part, Nasite Primary School head teacher Moon Kandiero cited long distances, lack of school blocks and teachers’ houses, inadequate teaching and learning materials, among others, as serious challenges posing a threat to education.

But in her remarks, Adams said the challenges raised by the heads will help her in her quest to improve education in the area.

“I am extremely happy today to have this meeting because I have heard the problems. Going forward, I am going to seek help from the donors and partners to address the problems,” she said.

The Second Deputy Speaker also said she noted a gap in the by-laws that resulted in chiefs as well parents failing to make commitment towards their children’s education, saying she will come up with the best strategy of addressing the anomalies.