Communities appeal for classroom blocks

 Communities around Namuchese Primary School in Senior Chief Mwabulambya in Chitipa District have asked duty-bearers to construct classroom blocks at the institution.

Speaking in an interview on Friday, the school’s management committee chairperson Andrew Silavwe said only two classroom blocks are in good condition.

He said the rest are death traps as the school opened in 1946. Said Silavwe: “One of the blocks used now was built in 1976.

“The other block we are using was constructed in 2015 by the Department of Disaster Management Affairs to replace the block that was damaged by the 2009 earthquake.”

He said five classroom blocks have been in use for 46 years.  Silavwe said besides poor structures, the school has 15 desks against 436 learners.

Group village head Mwenebungu said the community was ready to contribute 25 percent of the building materials such as river sand, bricks and timber.

“We want our children to learn in a conducive environment. We appeal to well-wishers to construct the classroom blocks,” he said.

Asked whether the idea to construct classroom blocks at the facility was included in their village action plans, Mwabulambya-Kaseye Area Development Committee chairperson Laureen Chilingulo asked for more time to comment.

Chitipa Central legislator Alinubwila Msongole acknowledged that the school was in bad shape.

“I am working tirelessly with Chitipa District Council chairperson Thomson Kapesa to see where we can source funds from for the construction of the classroom blocks,” he said.

On his part, Kapesa said the responsibility of constructing new classroom block lies with community development leaders with their elected leaders.