By Emmanuel Simpokolwe:
Minister of Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima has condemned the tendency of vandalising schools’ property whenever there is misunderstanding between teachers and students.
The minister said the conduct is retrogressive and in conflict with the government’s agenda of uplifting education standards in the country.
She was speaking in Mchinji when she toured Kamwanya Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) where some students set on fire property worth over K25 million in protest against the suspension their colleagues over indiscipline.
During the chaos, over 7,200 textbooks were deliberately set ablaze and information and communications technology laboratories got damaged.
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According to Kambauwa Wirima, replacing the vandalised property costs huge amounts of money which the government could use for other development activities.
“This is very sad, disappointing, disheartening and uncalled for. Having students moving the ministry backwards by engaging in acts where infrastructure is destroyed is something that needs to stop,” she said.
The minister added that her ministry is doing everything possible to formulate policies aimed at curbing the vice.
Meanwhile, the Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec) has issued a statement condemning the vandalism, saying the destruction at Kamwanya CDSS, including the deliberate destruction of educational resources and infrastructure, is an affront to the values of education and progress.
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In the statement, signed by Csec Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe and Board Chairperson Limbani Nsapato, the coalition says it is distressing that such acts occur when efforts are being made to improve education facilities and opportunities for students.
It adds that the repeated occurrence of vandalism in schools demands urgent attention and concerted efforts to address the underlying issues.
“As Csec, we are resolute in our commitment to uphold discipline and safeguard educational institutions from acts of vandalism.
“We urge parents, guardians, religious leaders, community members, NGOs and all stakeholders to collaborate with government in addressing the causes of indiscipline in schools,” Csec says.
According to Mchinji Police Station, 11 students were arrested in connection with the vandalism.
Last year, several schools in the country had their property vandalised by students over disagreements with their managements.
Some of the schools are Robert Blake Secondary School in Dowa, Nachitheme Secondary School in Ntcheu and St John Bosco Secondary School in Mzimba.
