Learners at Mtondo Junior Primary School in Chiyembe Village, Traditional Authority Pemba in Salima have expressed concerns with shortage of classrooms at the institution.
The school has 690 learners against one block of two classrooms. Only Standard One and Standard Five are accommodated in the available spaces while the rest learn under trees.
However, learning is disrupted during the rainy season and pupils are forced to miss classes.
When we visited the school on Monday, Standard Two learners were seen taking their lessons under a tree.
A standard Two learner, who opted for anonymity, said: “Learning outside has several challenges. Often we are distracted by people passing by. Again, during harsh weather conditions such as rains or cold, we do not attend classes.”
The school’s head teacher Tony Adyenji confided that the school, which opened in 2017, does not have adequate classrooms.
He said: “Communities established the school after noting that many children could not walk more than four kilometres to Mgwirizano Primary School.
“So, traditional leaders and parents asked the district’s education officials to open a new school here.”
Adyenji appealed to well-wishers to help construct classrooms to accommodate all learners.
“Community members already moulded bricks and we need resources such as cement and iron sheets,” he said.
Chiyembe Village Development Committee chairperson Leonard Mastoni said the school needs more classrooms to improve learning environment.
Meanwhile, Salima district principal education adviser Eliam Banda commended community members for their commitment to construct a school for their children.
He said: “They have moulded bricks and collected sand for construction works. What is missing is external support.
“We have been attempting to talk to political leaders who spearhead projects under the Community Development Fund and other well-wishers to determine how they might best serve this community.”
