MP Bester Awali Rewards 62 Top Students with K6 Million
Awali's commitment to recognising academic excellence and addressing educational inequalities in Zomba Central Constituency has been well received by the community.
Zomba, Malawi - Member of Parliament for Zomba Central Constituency, Bester Awali, displayed his commitment to education today by awarding 62 outstanding students with scholarships worth a total of 6 million kwacha, writes Peter Davieson.
The ceremony, held in recognition of their exceptional performance in the Primary School Leaving Certificate examinations, was marked by Awali's call for greater gender balance in academic achievement.
Addressing the gathering during the awards ceremony, Awali expressed his satisfaction with the student's achievements, noting that out of 1,465 successful candidates, 62 students had secured coveted spots in National and District Boarding Secondary Schools. He highlighted the notable dominance of girls among the high achievers.
"Those that have performed well are girls; a few boys have been selected, so I am urging boys to pull up their socks so that the next generation of boys can also excel," Awali remarked.
The emphasis on encouraging young boys to excel comes as a response to the gender disparity in academic achievement, with girls outshining boys in recent examinations.
James Kumbani, the coordinating chair for Zomba Urban, seized the opportunity to call on Awali to leverage his position to support the construction of a District Secondary School in Zomba City.
Kumbani asserted that many talented students with impressive grades fail to secure spots in National or District Boarding Schools, thereby losing out on further educational opportunities.
"Six schools have managed a 100% pass rate, but only a handful of learners have been selected for boarding secondary schools. Therefore, it is my plea to our Member of Parliament to collaborate with donors and facilitate the construction of at least one boarding secondary school. This will ensure that most of our children, who possess the potential, have access to higher education opportunities," Kumbani concluded.
Awali's commitment to recognising academic excellence and addressing educational inequalities in Zomba Central Constituency has been well received by the community.
As he champions gender equality and advocates for improved educational infrastructure, his efforts are poised to make a significant impact on the future of education in the region.