Hostels to keep girls in school

In Malemba Village, Traditional Authority Mkumbira in Nkhata Bay District, Janet Mwase, 16, wakes up at 4am to do household chores before leaving for school before sunrise.

The 16-kilometre journey takes her to Chisu, the hilly area’s only community day secondary school (CDSS).

The rural locality lacks reliable transportation and Janet walks the winding paths and dusty roads come rain or shine.

“This has been a test of my endurance, determination and belief,” she says, adjusting a backpack slung over her shoulders.

The determined girl says the first few kilometres are always the hardest as her footsteps on the gravel road break the morning silence.

By sunrise, the school-bound girl is halfway, having passed a hilly forest and a river.

Despite the physical toll of her journey, Janet’s spirit remains unbroken.

This is her third term in Form One and she remains resolute to go on despite several challenges she faces on her way to school.

She narrates: “I cross two streams that become impassable during rainy season and I have to use a longer route.

“Some men bully me on the way, but each step brings me closer to my dreams of becoming a journalist someday.”

Janet is among Chisu CDSS students who endure long travels to school.

Some girls give up, quitting school for marriage.

Chisu CDSS headteacher Howard Dunleck says the school has 158 learners, including 68 girls.

“This academic year, five Form One girls dropped out due to early pregnancies and marriages.

“Most of these learners cover long distances to school. They get here tired and don’t concentrate in class. The thought of covering the same distance back home pushes some to drop out,” he says.

Dunleck says while boys are also affected, the long walks make learning riskier for girls who are already vulnerable.

“Covering 32km a day to access education exposes the girl to several dangers, including sexual harassment,” he says.

Education helps children break the cycle of poverty and foster sustainable development. However, in many parts of Malawi, girls face numerous barriers to learn. They range from harmful cultural norms to economic hardships and lack of safe accommodation closer to their schools.

Plan International Malawi, with funding from Plan Norway National Office through the Child Not Bride Project, is constructing a 64-bed girls’ hostel at Chisu CDSS.

The hostel under construction mirrors the push to give every girl an opportunity to learn in a safe and supportive environment.

Plan Malawi believes that secure accommodation will remove one of the significant barriers to national and community efforts to keep girls in school until their dreams come true.

Dunleck says 50 of the 68 schoolgirls cover long distances and the hostel under construction will provide a secure environment likely to boost girls’ enrolment and school retention.

He states: “Safety is important, especially for adolescent girls living in vulnerable communities.

“The girls’ hostels offer a safe haven where girls can focus on their studies without fear of harassment or violence. Girls are more likely to continue their education when they feel safe and supported.”

Child Not Bride project manager MacDonald Mumba says it is not easy for learners living in remote areas to access quality education.

“On top of social norms, the distance learners walk to school is a big discouragement for rural girls. As Plan Malawi, we are addressing the challenge in some parts of Mzimba and Nkhata Bay” he says.

Plan Malawi has constructed three girls’ hostels in Karonga, Mzimba and now in Nkhata Bay under the project.

Mumba says: “The importance of the girls’ hostels extends beyond the physical infrastructure. It embodies a vision of empowerment and equality. It represents a commitment to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to thrive regardless of her background or circumstances.”

He believes that through education, girls can transcend limitations and unlock their potential to shape a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

Mumba says educated girls are more likely to marry later, have fewer children and contribute to the socio-economic development of their communities.

“With education, girls become agents of change, breaking down gender barriers and challenging societal norms. By investing in girls’ education, Plan Malawi is not only transforming individuals’ lives, but also catalysing positive change on a larger scale,” he says.

Each hostel constructed under the five-year project cost K90 million.

The project seeks to reduce dropout and absenteeism rates.