Parents blamed for high school dropout
Primary school teachers in Mchinji have blamed high girls dropout on lack of parents’ commitment on the girl child’s education.
They made the observation on Thursday at a meeting Community Initiative for Civic Education (Cise) organised for councillors, chiefs and teachers from various schools in the district.
Tikoliwe Primary School head teacher Lawrence Kambare said his school has registered 13 percent girl child dropouts this academic year.
“Parents in this district are not helping much in girl child education. They are sending girls to the border [with Zambia] to sell firewood while their friends are in class,” he said.
Kambare also said some girls dropout due to either unplanned pregnancies or child marriages.
Sub-Traditional Authority (ST/A) Nyoka called on fellow chiefs to end the vice by sensitising their communities to cultural practices that affect girl child education.
Cise executive director Andrew Mwanza said the organisation is working with District Education Office, ward councillors and chiefs to fight school dropout.
“Parents have a great role to play in girl child education,” he said. n
