Malawi District Donates Bicycles, Motorcycles to Boost Rural Education Access
The procurement, costing over K15 million, was funded through various grants including the District Improvement Grant and the Malawi Education Reform Program.
CHITIPA, Malawi— The Chitipa district council, with support from the Ministry of Education and the World Bank, has donated bicycles and motorcycles to female teachers and Primary Education Advisors (PEAs) to improve education quality in rural areas, writes Patricia Kayuni.
The donation, consisting of 18 bicycles and five motorcycles, aims to address mobility challenges faced by educators in hard-to-reach areas.
District Commissioner Macmillan Magomero said the initiative specifically targets female teachers to encourage their presence in rural schools.
"Female teachers are role models to girls, so we need to have them in our rural areas, but it's difficult to keep them there without any motivation," Magomero explained.
The motorcycles provided to PEAs are expected to enhance their ability to supervise schools in remote areas, potentially improving the district's pass rates.
Jane Mukumbwa, PEA for Kawale zone, accepted the donation on behalf of her colleagues, expressing confidence that the vehicles will help distribute quality education across the district. She also committed to maintaining the bikes as needed.
The procurement, costing over K15 million, was funded through various grants including the District Improvement Grant and the Malawi Education Reform Program.
This initiative reflects ongoing efforts in Malawi to address educational disparities between urban and rural areas, with a focus on supporting female educators and improving educational outcomes in underserved communities.