Food Crisis Fuels School Dropout Surge in Lilongwe
LILONGWE, Malawi — A worsening food shortage is driving students out of classrooms across Lilongwe district, education officials warn, writes Brian Augustus Kanyenda.
Lebitia Muzingo, chief education officer for Lilongwe Rural West, said poverty and food insecurity are behind a spike in dropout rates.
"The dropout rate is still high, most likely because of poverty," Muzingo said at an event donating learning materials to over 100 students.
"Most of the learners are facing financial challenges, especially in times like this, where food is scarce."
A recent report by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee found that more than 4 million households in the country lack adequate food.
To combat the problem, some schools are implementing feeding programs.
"As a way to deal with this problem, in some schools, we are implementing school feeding programs, so that a lot of learners can still be in school," Muzingo said.
The Youth Empowerment through Supportive Education (YESE) project is working to address the issue in Lilongwe District.
The project is implemented by the Center for Concerned Youth in Development with support from Sunhawk Energy International, in partnership with Child Legacy International and We Are One.
William Banda, speaking at a donation event for learning materials and school fees totalling K23 million, called for collective action from various stakeholders to reduce dropout rates.
"We are going to continue supporting the students who are underprivileged, and we believe that the CEO will allow us to recruit another cohort going forward," Banda said.
Since 2017, the project has assisted 150 learners, with 10 currently in tertiary education and eight who have graduated from colleges and universities.
One beneficiary, Samuel Timpuza Chataika, recently emerged as the top performer in the Malawi School Certificate of Education exams, scoring 13 points at St. John Bosco Secondary School.
The ongoing food crisis continues to pose significant challenges to education in Malawi, with officials and aid organizations working to keep students in school despite the mounting obstacles.