Neno child rendecry poor roads

Children in Neno District have asked authorities to construct good roads and bridges in the district to facilitate easy mobility to school during the rainy season.

They said this on Friday at the close of the district’s Seventh Children’s Parliament conducted under Save the Children’s Securing Children’s Rights through Education Protection (Screp) Project.

Speaking in an interview after the parliamentary proceedings, one of the children’s representatives, Promise Macheso said many of their peers are failing to access education because of poor roads, especially during the rainy season.

“We have made a number of resolutions, including funding in schools and donation of school materials, construction of classroom blocks and additional schools to reduce distances children travel to access education,” she said.

Macheso also hailed the Screp project for giving them a platform to discuss challenges facing children in the district.

Screp team leader Kenneth Wala expressed satisfaction with the project’s achievements in the five years in the district.

“The project has provided space for the children to discuss challenges affecting their welfare, including education,” he said.

Deputy Minister of Education Nancy Chaola Mdooko expressed government’s commitment to addressing challenges children are facing in the district.

“It is true learners are asking government to address challenges they are facing. We want to assure them that we are committed to improving the quality of education in Malawi and that the government will ensure that children are protected from all forms of abuse,” she said.

With funding from Norad, Save the Children in conjunction with Community Action for Sustainable Development Organisation (Casdo) was implementing the five-year Screp project in the district.