Special needs school appeals for help

Malingunde School of the Blind in Lilongwe has appealed for help to construct a fence and new hostels to enhance security at the institution.

In an interview, the school’s head teacher Huxley Tundulu said more often thieves steal learners’ belongings.

He said: “We feel insecure because frequently, pupils’ clothes, radios and groceries are stolen by thieves who take advantage of the learners’ visual impairment.

“We receive K293 000 per month from government, but it is not sufficient considering the ever increasing enrolment.”

Tundulu said the school has 45 learners—20 girls and 25 boys—from various districts in the country.

He added that due to accommodation challenges, the school has put some learners on a waiting list, a development he said deprives them of their right to education.

“However, the school has only two special needs teachers for Standard One to Eight,” said Tundulu.

Head prefects Miracle Kamudziaka, 17, and Adson Christopher, 18, complained about congestion in the hostels.

“We also need Braille machines, cubes for solving mathematics, stylus pens, Braille papers,” said Kamudziaka.

On his part, Christopher said their colleagues with albinism need skin lotion.

Malingunde Ward councillor Mandauka MacDonald said the school requires renovations because it opened its doors 50 years ago.

Meanwhile, First Lady Monica Chakwera donated 70 cartons of rice and Soy-blend from Feed the Hungry organisation.

Lilongwe South legislator Peter Dimba (Malawi Congress Party) said the donation was timely and echoed the head teacher’s appeal for the construction of a fence and hostels.