Kalondolondo condemns self-boarding ban

Kalondolondo programme has faulted government’s directive that bans self-boarding initiatives, arguing the order is killing the only chance students from poor communities have of acquiring secondary education.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the Centre for Youth and Children’s Affairs (Ceyca) in Kasungu recently, Kalondolondo programme manager Jephter Mwanza said he was reacting to a letter issued by the Ministry of Education reminding all education divisions of the ban which was effected last year.

Said Mwanza: “We find this circular to be discriminatory and an insult to the people of Malawi, especially the poor whose only gateway to secondary education is through self-boarding schools because schools are very far away from where they live.”

He, therefore, suggested that the ban should be removed and that government should allow teachers and communities to manage the self-boarding initiative.

Ceyca manager for Kasungu District, Ned Mkumba, said a survey conducted in the 14 secondary schools which offer self-boarding to girls indicated that the schools do not meet government’s standards for girls’ boarding schools.

“The houses are built of sun baked bricks and are grass-thatched with no lockable doors. A lot of girls are subjected to all sorts of abuse, including rape because they are not secure,” said Mkumba.

However, education division manager Thomas Mkandawire advised the schools and communities to seek the ministry’s approval whenever they want to construct self-boarding facilities.