Education Ministry against extension of initiation period

Machinga Education Office has called on traditional leaders, parents and guardians in the district to ensure that the initiation period does not extend into the first weeks of the school calendar.

Machinga district education manager Enoch Chumachao was speaking in an interview on Thursday.

He expressed concern that some initiators in the district like to extend initiation periods.

“Schools are expected to open on September 9.  There is enough time for the children’s initiation,” he said.

The initiation period last year was extended in many parts of the district as children remained in camps way beyond schools’ opening date of September 3 2012.

Chumachao said his office will send school calendars to all the traditional authorities in the district for them to take note of the closing and opening days.—Mana