Children in Chikwawa Face Challenges in Accessing Education
Children in villages surrounding Tchande, Mbundu, and Phwadzi primary schools in Chikwawa district face challenges in accessing education, writes Comfort Bulangete.
Chikwawa, Malawi-Children in villages surrounding Tchande, Mbundu, and Phwadzi primary schools in Chikwawa district face challenges in accessing education, writes Comfort Bulangete.
The schools are located far from the villages, and children often have to walk long distances to get to school.
This is especially difficult during the rainy season, when the roads can become impassable.
As a result of the long distances, many children miss school altogether. In the 2021–2022 academic year, 55 students dropped out of school in the three villages, representing a 33.7 percent dropout rate.
Local leaders have tried to address the problem by building new schools closer to the villages. However, these efforts have been hampered by a a lack of funding.
In 2019, communities in the village of Tonkhwe moulded bricks to be used in the construction of two classroom blocks.
However, the construction was never completed due to a lack of funds.
The Malawi Red Cross Society is working with local leaders and parents to address the problem of access to education in the three villages.
The Red Cross has put stones on small rivers to make it easier for children to cross during the rainy season.
The Red Cross is working with local leaders and parents to address the problem of long walks to school by building new schools closer to the villages and providing transportation for children to get to school.
The Red Cross believes that access to education is a fundamental right, and it is committed to working with local leaders and parents to ensure that all children in the three villages have the opportunity to attend school.