Tents Destroyed, Learning Disrupted at Mpatsa Primary
Mpatsa Primary School relocated from its former campus last year following floods fueled by the seasonal rivers of Namiyala and Nkhande.
NSANJE, Malawi - Authorities at Mpatsa Primary School under Mpatsa Education Zone in the area of Senior Chief Tengani in Nsanje have expressed concern that the destruction of their tents will negatively affect teaching and learning when schools open for the second term next week Monday, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
Headteacher for the school Jussab Mintrozo said Tuesday in an interview that last Friday's strong winds which were associated with rainfall blew off four tents which were used as classrooms.
He said all the tents which were donated by UNICEF are completely damaged and cannot be repaired again.
Mintrozo observed that lack of trees at the new place has contributed to the devastation of the tents as they could not withstand the strong winds.
"The destroyed tents were meant to accommodate Standards 1,7 and 8," he said.
The headteacher also said the school reported the shortage of tents to the Commissioner of the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) Charles Kalemba when he paid a visit to the new campus last year.
Mintrozo revealed that the only tents they have left are those donated by the World Food Programme (WFP) which have bigger and stronger steel poles.
"We need ten new tents for effective class allocation," Mintrozo said.
Mpatsa Primary School relocated from its former campus last year following floods fueled by the seasonal rivers of Namiyala and Nkhande.
It has an enrollment of 2,778 students and 27 teachers.