K2 m examination fees stolen at Thyolo Secondary School

Robbers armed with pangas on Monday morning stole K2 million ($3,351.87) from Thyolo Secondary School, Police have confirmed.

The money is reportedly examination fees collected from candidates for the Malawi National Examination Board (Maneb).

Confirming the incident, Thyolo Police Station spokesperson Edith Kachotsa said the robbers, who were seven in number, also went away with a computer.

Kachotsa said the thieves entered the school’s staffroom at around 1 am.

They found a teacher, identified as Edward Abraham working and forcefully took his keys.

She said the robbers used the keys to gain entry into the school’s deputy Head’s office where the money was being kept.

“Abraham was then tied together with Gideon Edson,the security guard on watch.

“The robbers then went away with K2 177 850 ($3,649.93) examination fees and a laptop computer,” said Kachotsa.

She said there are serious questions as to why Abraham was at the office at that odd hour, but in a statement he insists he was typing school work.

There was tension at the school on Monday morning as students boycotted assembly and classes demanding the immediate release of their teacher.

Police were called in and amicably brought order the otherwise volatile situation, she said.

A retired headmaster who spoke on grounds of anonymity said it is not procedural to keep such money at school, saying every school is supposed to deposit the money into the Maneb account immediately.—Mana