Malawi educationists impressed with girls’ enrollment in Karonga

There is hope that girls’ enrolment in primary schools in the Malawi’s northern region district of Karonga   will increase courtesy of Gender Responsive Pedagogy, an initiative of Forum for African Women Educationalist in Malawi (FAWEMA).

This came to light at Karonga Demonstration Primary School where it has shown that more girls are attending school and have outstanding academic performance.

Karonga Demonstration Primary School Acting Head Mistress Mercy Mwalwanda confirmed that since the project started girls are attending school in large numbers.

“Now in most of classes we are registering more girls than boys and also three quarters of night students are married women,” said Mwalwanda.

She pointed out that starting from 2012 to 2013 the first top five in standard eight are girls, which is an achievement to them.

She added that after Gender Responsive Pedagogy training, they organized a mother group to help sensitize the community on the benefits of educating girls.

A mother group member in the community, Eunice Kisyombe said although they experience resistance in some areas, most of people are now appreciating the goodness of sending girl child to school.

She cited that cultural attitude is the challenge that the group is facing saying some men are still giving the reasons that women are meant to take care of children.

However, Kisyombe shared a success story of five girls in her community who were married but now are back to school.

Project officer for FAWEMA, Cecilia Njoka said she is impressed with how the community is doing in bringing change on girls education.

She urged people to continue the good work they are doing to change Malawi.

Gender Responsive Pedagogy was established in 2009 to promote gender equity and equality in education by fostering positive policies and practices towards girls’ education.