18 schools to battle in Atem national final
Association for the Teaching of English in Malawi (Atem) President Dave Mpaso said Thursday that 18 schools will shrug it off in the national drama final set to be held in Lilongwe with the Southern Region expected to dominate with nine schools.
Mpaso clarified that it was not about the Southern Region being favoured but rather it was about educational divisions and not necessarily regions.
“The Northern Region has one education division which is Northern Education Division whereas Central Region has two divisions while the Southern Region has three. This means we shall have three schools from the North, six from the Central and nine from the South,” he said.
Northern Education Division selected its three representatives last weekend during its division finals held at Katoto Secondary School in Mzuzu and these are Nkhata Bay Boys Secondary School, Mchengautuwa Community Day Secondary School and St Patricks Seminary.
And this weekend the divisional finals continue with Central East Education Division (Ceed) hosting its contest at Chayamba Secondary School in Kasungu Saturday and Sunday whereas South East Education Division (Seed) will hold its contest tomorrow where eight schools are expected to battle it out.
Central West Education Division (Cwed) will hold its contest on February 18 at Mlodza Secondary School in Lilongwe with the dates for the contests of other divisions in the Southern Region to be announced later.
Atem is running its contest under the themes ‘Evils of corruption’ and ‘The role of youth in combating gender-based violence’.
Mpaso said after the divisional finals, they will go straight to the national finals.
“No-one is sponsoring us only that British Council through the Hornby Trust gave us a K2 million grant for English seminars which were done successfully. Part of the grant is to be used at the national level,” Mpaso said.
Atem has returned after being out of the limelight for four years.
Mpaso admitted that the break before Covid affected them but said they were back although they were still in need of funding.
Atem has over the years helped in unearthing drama talent and it includes theatre greats the late Du Chisiza Jr and Gertrude Webster Kamkwatira.
