Sunbird rescues seven Dapp student teachers

Sunbird Tourism Limited (STL) has come to the aid of seven ‘financially struggling but brilliant students drawn from different Dapp Teachers Training College (TTC) with three-year scholarships amounting to K12 million (US$278 776).

Speaking at a ceremony in Blantyre yesterday, STL public relations officer Akossa Mphepo said the scholarship  is part of Sunbird’s quest to improve education standards.

“We all know that the situation within the education sector is critical. We have few teachers and even among the few, very few are willing to work in rural areas.

“This shortage of teachers is affecting delivery of knowledge, skills and competencies to pupils, who, with time, are supposed to form bulwark of the country’s workforce,” she said.

Mphepo added: “It is against this background that when Dapp approached us with a proposal to sponsor needy students, who are unable to meet the fees of $1300 per annum, we immediately offered our help.”

Dapp country director Lisbeth Thompsen, in thanking STL for the gesture, advised the beneficiaries to work hard and make a difference in improving education in the country.

“As Dapp, we will work hard, as usual, to chisel these students so that they, at least, help and inspire more pupils, especially girls, to achieve their dreams,” she said.

Beneficiaries include six female and a male students.

The seven will be sponsored by each of Sunbird hotels and resorts.

Each student, by accepting the scholarship, entered a bond to teach for three years in the areas where each Sunbird unit is based.