School Drop Out Among Girls Concerns Minister

Deputy Minister of Education Science and Technology, Martha Mzomera Ngwira, has expressed worry with increased number of girls dropping out of school due to early marriages and pregnancies.

She made the remarks on Friday when she toured St. Rosario Primary School in Mzimba to appreciate activities under the Malawi Education Sector Improvement Project (MESIP) supported by the Global Partnership for Education.

“I feel sad when girls drop out of school especially due to poverty, early marriages, lack of infrastructure and you know if you educate a girl you are educating the nation,” said Ngwira.

On the MESIP initiative, Ngwira said: “I think MESIP is the way to go as the project ensures that learners in standard 1-4 are not repeating classes while those in standard 6 to 7 are being retained in schools.”

Mzimba South District Education Manager, Fanwell Chiowa, said the construction of new classroom blocks under MESIP has also reduced congestion in classrooms.

“This project has two components. One part deals with infrastructure while the other ensures that teachers have skills in delivery of lessons to learners; so it is really making strides in improving the education sector in the district and the country as a whole,” said Chiowa.