Care, Old Mutual build school block

Care International Malawi and Old Mutual Blantyre Foundation Trust have handed over a K69 million classroom block and a fully furnished administration office at Mbenjere Primary School in Traditional Authority Liwonde, Machinga District.

Speaking during the handover, Care International education programmes lead Limbani Chipembere said the facility is part of their three-year education programme seeking to create conducive environment for learners in rural areas.

He said: “We are excited because when we came here before the project, we noted the commitment towards education among teachers, community leaders and learners.

“It was only that the conditions at the school were not good for education. But now children will get the opportunity to learn in good infrastructure.”

Old Mutual Blantyre Foundation Trust chairperson Taonga Manda called on the private sector to get involved in constructing school infrastructure to promote education.

“Investing in school infrastructure is more important because we cannot talk of the future of this nation without education and you cannot talk about education without providing good infrastructure,” he said.

Manda asked the communities and learners to take care of the classroom block.

Machinga district acting director of education, youth and sports Nellie Kamtedza said she was optimistic that the initiative will promote education in the district.

She, however, said most schools in Machinga require similar interventions.

“The majority of our 190 primary schools have one or two classroom blocks; hence, forcing them to rely on grass-thatched shelters to accommodate learners,” said Kamtedza.

Mbenjere Primary School opened in 2018 to help children access education closer as they previously used to cover long distances to Michongwe Primary School.

The school has 900 learners.