Children’s Parliament for quality education

Children in Lupembe-Mlare in Traditional Authority Kyungu in Karonga District have singled out shortage of desks, teachers’ houses and school blocks as some factors affecting their education.

Speaking through Children Parliament at Mlare, the children also cited harmful cultural practices, shortage of medical drugs in hospitals and poor access to potable water as some of the challenges.

In an interview, Speaker of the Children’s Parliament Ikupa Mwenifumbo said they wanted duty-bearers to help solve the challenges to enable children access quality education.

“We urgently need textbooks, desks, teachers’ houses and school blocks to promote quality education,” she said.

Chiwondo Zone primary education adviser Watamiwe Mwalwanda commended World Vision for giving children a platform to discuss challenges affecting their education and well-being.

In response to the children’s concern, Karonga District Council vice-chairperson King Mvula assured the young legislators that his office will liaise with other duty-bearers to see if they can tap funds from the Constituency Development Fund to buy desks and construct additional teachers’ houses and school blocks.

“We have heard their concerns. We have been given the resolutions and we will act on them,” he said.

World Vision Karonga district manager Hendrix Kalanje said their goal is that every child enjoy life; hence, implementing interventions such as education.

“We gave children the platform to raise issues affecting their well-being before the duty-bearers who were in attendance,” he said.

World Vision conducted the the children’s Parliament with support from World Vision Canada.