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Rural primary school pleads for infrastructure

Makonje Primary School head teacher Ronald Chinkondenji has pleaded for the construction of new classroom blocks at the school.

The head teacher made the call on Sunday when the Parliamentary Committee on Education toured the Lilongwe-based school to monitor the progress of a Breaking Barriers Tax Justice and Gender Responsive Services Project ActionAid is implementing at the institution.

Children learn under a tree at Makonje Primary School

Chinkondenji said the school has two classroom blocks and that during the rainy season, learners are sent back home.

He said: “With support from the community, we built one additional classroom block, but one side collapsed because it did not have iron sheets.

“We want your [parliamentary committee] support.”

Chinkondenji also said the school lacks a library, head teacher’s office, teachers’ houses and washrooms for girls.

“The community is ready to take part in the construction works by moulding bricks and providing river sand,” he said.

ActionAid International programmes manager Julie Juma said the communities should spearhead the project.

“Organisations and other stakeholders should come in to support what communities have initiated,” she said.

Committee chairperson Brainax Kaise commended ActionAid for the Breaking Barriers Tax Justice and Responsive services Project which has empowered communities to demand services from their duty-bearers.

“Through the project, communities are able to tell us what they need because they know that part of their tax has to go towards the improvement of the education sector,” he said.

Kaise said the committee’s mandate is to educate the nation, as such, they will address the challenges.

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