Call for Equal Bursary Disbursement in Mbelwa District
The meeting brought together legislators from Mzimba District, civil society organization representatives, and government officials.
LILONGWE, Malawi - The Mbelwa District Assembly has expressed a need to consider gender balance in the disbursement of bursaries through the provision of funds, writes Judgement Katika.
This comes after officials raised concerns to members of Parliament from the Northern Region in Lilongwe on March 20, 2024, citing duplication and assessment issues where some female students who are vulnerable have access to bursaries, while male students are left without hope of obtaining funds to sustain their education.
In his presentation, Dr. Mthezemu Kamanga, Chairperson for the District Child Protection Committee in Mzimba North, said, "Lack of knowledge on the implementation of CDF and the duplication is steering the knowledge gap that is supposed to be addressed with keen interest."
"More girls are supported because they are in majority, so to narrow the gap of desperation from boys, organizations must also consider boys," Kamanga added.
Speaker of Parliament, Catherine Gotani Hara, commended the Mbelwa District Council for their efforts to coordinate with both state and non-state actors.
"There is a need to know the specific target of support regardless of gender for the benefit of every child," Hara emphasized.
The meeting brought together legislators from Mzimba District, civil society organization representatives, and government officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Unity, and Culture from the district.