Teachers and learners at Mankhokwe Primary School in Nsanje District have expressed excitement with the construction of eight toilets worth K28 million at the institution.
The facilities, constructed under the Constituency Development Fund, are set to help improve sanitation at the school. The institution has been operating without toilets since 2023 when Cyclone Freddy-induced floods destroyed them.
In an interview on Saturday, the school’s head teacher Bernadette Mlinga thanked Nsanje South legislator Ramzan Juma Mahommed (independent) for facilitating the project.
She said: “The cyclone destroyed toilets for learners and teachers. It was difficult to operate without such facilities. Sometimes, learners used the surrounding bushes to answer the call of nature. The practice put the lives of learners and teachers at risk of contracting waterborne diseases.
“There was a bad smell at the school which made it difficult to breathe. However, the situation is different now as we can breathe fresh air.”
The school’s head girl Mwaiwao Master said girls were the most affected with the situation.
“As girls, we need privacy when answering the call of nature. Lack of toilets removed our dignity and it was not easy. However, we appeal to other well-wishers to construct change rooms for girls,” she said.
Mahomed said he facilitated the project because he understands the importance of good sanitation in schools.
“To create a conducive learning atmosphere, schools need good toilets. That is why I facilitated the project. I am a firm believer in quality education,” he said.
The legislator thanked Kungayicha Village Development Committee of Traditional Authority (T/A) Ndamera for ensuring smooth implementation of the project.
Out of the eight facilities, six are for learners and two for teachers.
The school, which opened its doors in 1952, has 821 learners.
