Parliamentary Committee on Education has expressed satisfaction with preparatory classes (p-class) pilot phase in Salima District.
Salima is one of the districts alongside Dedza and Nsanje where the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and Unicef are running the p-classes under a pilot phase.
Speaking on Tuesday during a visit to St Francis of Assisi Primary School in Salima organised by Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Coalition on Child Rights with support from Unicef, committee chairperson Mutani Tambala hailed the p-class initiative for giving children a good start for primary education.
She said: “This is a good development because it prepares children before starting Standard One.
“Apart from community-based child care centres that already exist, the p-classes are preparing a child to be in the know of what comes when they enter Standard One.”
Tambala encouraged Unicef and NGO Coalition on Child Rights to extend the pilot phase to many districts.
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology deputy director for secondary education Samuel Chibwana said schools start from the grassroots; hence, introduction of the p-classes.
“We commend our development partners for supporting the pilot phase,” he said.
NGO Coalition on Child Rights national coordinator Henry Machemba said they organised the tour for the committee to appreciate the project.
