The Anglican Diocese of Northern Malawi has embarked on a K28 million girls’ hostel project at Msomba Primary School at Chintheche in Nkhata Bay.
Church authorities say this is in an effort to enhance girls’ education in the area.
Currently, the school has a makeshift girls’ shelter, without beds, which accommodates 62 girls with the rest housed in classrooms.
During a groundbreaking ceremony over the weekend, headteacher of the school, Leonard Nkhoma, said the idea of a boarding school was hatched few years ago after female pupils complained that household chores interfered with their study time.
“When we raised the issue with parents, they were in agreement and we put up a small structure which coaxed the Anglican Church to come in,” Nkhoma said.
He disclosed that since they launched the initiative, the girls’ performance has improved.
Bishop for the diocese, Fanuel Magangani, said looking at the people’s willingness to contribute to the project, the church saw it necessary to render a helping hand.
“We came in because the community itself showed the zeal to have their daughters within the school campus and they started working towards the goal. We believe that every community has something which just needs filling in the gaps with what they don’t have,” Magangani said.
He disclosed that they plan to undertake the construction works in four months.
He further disclosed that the Anglican Church is implementing School Feeding Programmes at Msomba, Chilambwe and Mhuju with high likelihood of replicating it in other institutions.
“Quality education encompasses a lot of things, by bringing the hostel here, we are protecting the girls from several challenges like harassment, HIV and Aids, long distances and more. So as a church we have a responsibility to partner government in the cause,” he added.
Inaugurated in 1998, Msomba Full Primary School has a population of 579 pupils, with the girls in majority of 368 from across the country.
The school’s head teacher said since its inception, the school has oftentimes come out best in the Primary School Leaving Certificate Education (PSLCE) examinations out of the 13 schools in the zone.
The new hostel will have 16 rooms of four beds each.
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