Chilumba Secondary School gets 100 desks

Chilumba Secondary School alumni have donated 100 desks worth K4 million to their former institution to enhance government’s efforts to create a conducive learning environment.

The donation follows reports of shortage of desks at the institution, which opened its doors in 1968.

Speaking on Monday after the handover, the alumni chairperson Jan Van Kondowe said they recalled the challenges they experienced while at the school and decided to contribute resources to provide desks to the institution.

“During our time, we were sleeping on the floor. We did not have enough beds. Those memories inspired us to get organised to source funds for the donation,” he said.

The school’s head teacher Ruben Singogo assured the former students of improved performance following the donation.

He said: “The school registered 88 percent pass rate in the 2021 Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations.

“Now the desks will motivate students to work harder, as such, expect a big improvement in performance this year.”

Northern Region Education Division desk officer for secondary schools, Grace Gulura, commended the alumni for the donation.

She said quality education can be attained if resources such as desks are available in schools.

Gulura said students struggle to attend classes due to shortage of desks.

“The situation is worse during examinations as every student is required to sit at a desk,” she said.

Gulura said due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is not easy to mobilise desks.

“I urge the students to take care of the desks,” she said.

However, the school does not have a fence and has few classroom blocks.