By Leah Malimbasa:
Outdoor learning often comes with distractions and most learners struggle to concentrate on lessons due to disturbances associated with learning in the open under extreme heat and discomfort.
In Chikwawa District, where temperatures can soar up to 44 degrees Celsius, learning outside the classroom in sweltering heat is a challenge for many young learners, often making education difficult.
Fourteen-year-old Ethel Limbikani is a learner at Gombwa Junior Primary School, which opened for learning in 2021 with an enrolment of 385 children but only had a single classroom block.
“We were learning outside and during rainfall, classes were disrupted. When it was hot, it was also difficult to concentrate while sitting under the scorching sun,” Ethel says.
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Such hardships caught the attention of Member of Parliament (MP) for Chikwawa Nkombedzi Constituency, Abida Mia, who is also Minister of Water and Sanitation.
“The unfortunate situation at Gombwa Junior Primary School inspired me to engage an extra gear towards improving education standards in my constituency.
“Most learners were studying outdoors, which exposed them to harsh weather conditions; hence my intervention to make a difference,” Mia explains.
Determined to create more conducive learning environments in her constituency, the MP mobilised K46 million from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and built a new classroom block at Gombwa Junior Primary School.
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According to the school’s headteacher, Chikwasha Simba Jimu, learners are no longer at the mercy of harsh weather conditions, as they now study in a safe and well-structured environment.
Jimu states that the MP, Chikwawa District Council and other stakeholders closely monitored the CDF procurement process and carefully followed up on project funds.
“We were able to monitor the project’s progress together with local structures such as area development committees, village development committees and project committees to ensure that community members had a stake in the project.
“The new learning structure has also transformed the physical landscape of the school and the attitudes of both teachers and learners.
“The new classroom block has alleviated the burden of overcrowding, allowing teachers to conduct lessons in a comfortable environment while giving each learner the space they need to engage fully in their studies,” Jimu says.
Chikwawa District Council’s Director of Education, Youth and Sports, Gertrude Zimba, concurs with Jimu regarding the broad impact this development has on education in the district.
“The Ministry of Education recommends a classroom ratio of 1:60; however, in Chikwawa, an average classroom has 132 learners.
“This reduces interaction between teachers and students, as overcrowded classrooms make it difficult for teachers to give each pupil the attention they deserve, ultimately impacting learning outcomes,” Zimba says.
She adds that quality classroom infrastructure is essential for delivering education that meets national and global standards.
Aligned with Malawi 2063, which prioritises human capital development, investments in educational facilities play a crucial role in building the foundation for a skilled and educated population.
The new classrooms also support Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims for inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
To ensure the classroom block remains in good condition, Zimba emphasises a collaborative approach.
“We will work together with teachers, learners, and the community and the district council will allocate funds for ongoing maintenance, safeguarding this valuable resource for future generations,” she adds.
Meanwhile, Senior Group Village Head Nzangaya expresses gratitude to both the government and Mia for their efforts to improve education standards in the area.
“Our children were walking about six kilometres to the nearby school but this new classroom block will ease our children’s tiresome treks to other schools.
“We have already employed two security guards to help safeguard the new classroom block for the benefit of future students,” Nzangaya says.
