ILO, TUM in K67.6mschool support project

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in collaboration with Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) has launched a K67.6 million project to distribute teaching and learning materials in schools.

Speaking on Tuesday during the launch at Chinthembwe Primary School in Ntchisi, ILO country director for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique Wellington Chibebe said the project seeks to reduce child labourin the district through encouraging children to remain in school.

He said: The donation of school materials resonates with our role as we want to ensure that there is social justice through provision of education and securing the future of children.

“The elimination of child labour within supply chains necessitates coordinated and collaborative action by all stakeholders at all levels.”

Chibebe appealed to the beneficiaries to put the materials to proper use.

Ministry of Education director of basic education Grace Milda said the donation came at the right time when most schools were experiencing inadequate teaching and learning materials.

“The materials will help us ensure that we have textbooks and exercise books in schools where we did not have enough of them,” she said.

Ministry of Labour director of administration Paul Kalilombe said the materials will help empower children who have been withdrawn from tobacco farms and other forms of child labour.

“The fight against child labour is complicated and expensive, as such, government alone cannot do everything. We, therefore, value the support that ILO has given towards the education sector,” he said.

ILO is implementing Action for Elimination of Child Labour in Supply Chains in Africa project with support from the government of The Netherlands in partnership with TUM.

The project will also donate textbooks and writing materials to Chitipa, Mulanje, Thyolo and Mzimba districts.