Thyolo district principal education officer Wallace Goffat has expressed excitement with the new library commissioned at Thunga Primary School, saying the facility will improve literacy skills among learners.
He thanked Alliance Française director Luc Deschamps for handing over the library to the school on Saturday.
Goffat, who said Thunga was the first primary school in the district to have library, advised teachers and learners to utilise the resources to improve performance.
“We are pleased to have the library. Children will now have access to books and a proper learning environment. We will ensure the library is well maintained,” he said.
The school’s headteacher Peter Chikopa described the initiative as a major development in the delivery of quality education.
“Thunga Primary School opened its doors in 1921 and we have never had a library until now. It opens up new opportunities for both learners and teachers. It will improve the quality of education and improve pass rate in national examinations,” he said.
On his part, Deschamps said the initiative was part of his broader mission to enhance access to educational resources for Malawian children.
“For a long time, learners in Thyolo have lacked access to basic reading materials. This library is a small step toward changing that,” he said.
A Standard Eight learner, Omega Francis said she was excited to have access to books on various topics.
“It will help me read more as I prepare for my Standard Eight examinations,” she said.
Francis encouraged her fellow learners to utilise the facility to acquire knowledge that will empower them as they advance in their studies.
This is the 33rd library that Deschamps has handed over to public primary schools in the country.
Situated within Thunga Catholic Parish, Thunga Primary School serves 1 706 learners—897 girls and 809 boys.
