Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Samuel Kalimira
Published on 2024-03-28 06:42:55
The government of Malawi is taking steps to address the issue of school vandalism and student indiscipline by reviewing school discipline policies. This decision comes as a response to the increasing cases of school vandalism in various regions of the country such as Blantyre, Ntcheu, Dowa, and Mzuzu.
Education Minister Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima highlighted the need for an efficient approach to handling cases of student indiscipline, especially when it comes to damage to school property. She expressed concern over delays in decision-making processes at the central level and emphasized the ministry’s commitment to addressing the problem of student violence in schools.
The government is currently implementing the Equity and Quality Learning at Secondary (Equals) initiative in 13 districts with funding from the World Bank. This initiative aims to improve the quality of education in secondary schools and create a conducive learning environment for students.
As part of this initiative, construction works for science laboratories and libraries are underway at schools like Maghemo Secondary School and Karonga Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Karonga District. These facilities are expected to benefit students by enhancing their learning experience and improving their academic performance in science subjects.
Karonga CDSS Head teacher Howard Kumwenda commended the government for investing in information communication technology laboratories and libraries at the school. He emphasized the importance of these facilities in supporting the educational needs of the school’s 1,800 students and students from neighboring schools within the cluster.
The new facilities are expected to provide students with better access to resources, ultimately improving their chances of gaining admission to public universities. Kumwenda noted that the previous makeshift lab and library were inadequate for the students’ needs and expressed optimism that the new structures would significantly benefit all students in the cluster.
In addition to addressing issues of student indiscipline, the government is also working to improve infrastructure in community day secondary schools. Education Minister Kambauwa Wirima reaffirmed the government’s commitment to collaborating with development partners to overcome challenges such as the shortage of classroom blocks in these schools.
Overall, the government’s efforts to review school discipline policies and invest in infrastructure improvements demonstrate a proactive approach to enhancing the quality of education and creating a safe and conducive learning environment for students in Malawi. By addressing issues of vandalism and indiscipline, the government aims to ensure that students have the necessary resources and support to thrive academically and succeed in their educational endeavors.
Read the original article on The Times
