MALAWI: 53 Drop-out Pupils Re-admitted in Machinga Schools
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| Ms. Chikumbutso Maganga |
At least 53 pupils who dropped out of school for various
reasons in Machinga have been re-admitted to primary schools, thanks to the
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) funded Mother Groups project in Mangochi Diocese.
reasons in Machinga have been re-admitted to primary schools, thanks to the
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) funded Mother Groups project in Mangochi Diocese.
The initiative of bringing back pupils back to schools has
been championed by the mother groups that were formed through the project at
Kaombe, Mikachu, Napere, St John, Namandanje and Masanje primary schools in the
area of Traditional Authority Liwonde in the district.
been championed by the mother groups that were formed through the project at
Kaombe, Mikachu, Napere, St John, Namandanje and Masanje primary schools in the
area of Traditional Authority Liwonde in the district.
Narrating her story, Flossy Beston, aged 15, one of the
pupils who dropped out of school at the age of 12 after she became pregnant,
said that she is happy to be re-admitted to school after three years at home.
pupils who dropped out of school at the age of 12 after she became pregnant,
said that she is happy to be re-admitted to school after three years at home.
“It has always been my dream to become a qualified nurse after
my studies. However, this dream met a threat at a certain point in my life when
I became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl,” she said.
my studies. However, this dream met a threat at a certain point in my life when
I became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl,” she said.
She added, “From the time I became pregnant, things had not
been well for me. I suffered a lot inwardly, thank God all my parents are alive
and they have been supporting me financially and materially.”
been well for me. I suffered a lot inwardly, thank God all my parents are alive
and they have been supporting me financially and materially.”
Her Deputy Head teacher, Ms. Chikumbutso Maganga said that the
Mother Groups, the Mangochi Diocese Education Commission has formed have proved
to be crucial as far as the promotion of education is concerned.
Mother Groups, the Mangochi Diocese Education Commission has formed have proved
to be crucial as far as the promotion of education is concerned.
Maganga said that through the Mother Group’s interventions,
the school enrollment rate is fast growing as more drop out pupils are coming
back to school. “For instance, during the baseline survey of this project, we
only had 1325 pupils. Since the project rolled out its activities some two
years ago, the enrollment rate has improved so much that now have about 1643
pupils. The figure is likely going to go up because learners are still re-enrolling
– all this is because of the initiatives by the Mother Groups,” she said.
the school enrollment rate is fast growing as more drop out pupils are coming
back to school. “For instance, during the baseline survey of this project, we
only had 1325 pupils. Since the project rolled out its activities some two
years ago, the enrollment rate has improved so much that now have about 1643
pupils. The figure is likely going to go up because learners are still re-enrolling
– all this is because of the initiatives by the Mother Groups,” she said.
Chair lady for Kaombe Mother Group, Alinafe Mitomoni said that
her ten-member group is proud of the successes registered through their
interventions and appealed to parents, teachers and all other stakeholder to be
cooperative and to assist them in achieving to their goal of promoting girl education
in the area.
her ten-member group is proud of the successes registered through their
interventions and appealed to parents, teachers and all other stakeholder to be
cooperative and to assist them in achieving to their goal of promoting girl education
in the area.
The Education Secretary for Education Commission in Mangochi
Diocese, Mr. Cyprian Tambala said the project has managed to register a number
of success stories within the two years that they have been implementing the
project in Machinga.
Diocese, Mr. Cyprian Tambala said the project has managed to register a number
of success stories within the two years that they have been implementing the
project in Machinga.
He also said that the project has identified other gaps and
has so far strived to address them, hence increased access to instructional and
reading materials to children in the targeted schools, improved governance and
management system of the schools and improved learning infrastructure.
has so far strived to address them, hence increased access to instructional and
reading materials to children in the targeted schools, improved governance and
management system of the schools and improved learning infrastructure.
“For example, the project has managed to train community key
stakeholders in lobbying skills for funds mobilization, and to facilitate
linkages between community key stakeholders like the Area Development
Committees and the District Education Manager, in order to access Local
Development Funds at Council level,” he said.
stakeholders in lobbying skills for funds mobilization, and to facilitate
linkages between community key stakeholders like the Area Development
Committees and the District Education Manager, in order to access Local
Development Funds at Council level,” he said.
CRS Programs Manager for Education, Monica Chiwalo pledged
continued support to the project in the next financial year, which starts in
November 2014.
continued support to the project in the next financial year, which starts in
November 2014.
Source:
Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer
Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer
