By Florence Phiri
The United States of America (USA) has reaffirmed it’s commitment to construct over 250 new community day Secondary schools across the country to improve access to secondary education.
Robert Scott, the US Ambassador to Malawi disclosed the development at Mchengautuwa in Mzuzu when he handed over to the Malawi government 96 classrooms constructed in 30 different secondary schools across the country, under the Secondary School Education Expansion (SEED) Project .
” These new classrooms are only the beginning as I told the president, in partnership with the government of Malawi, which provides all the teachers that teach in these schools,the US government will soon start construction of similar schools in rural areas through the $90 million equivalent to MK71.2 billion,” Said Scott.
Scott presenting gift to Mchengautuwa student
The US ambassador believes the new classrooms will accord students a healthy and safer learning environment especially during covid19 pandemic period .
“The additional classrooms will create a good learning ambience and help to decongest schools,” he said.
Scott ,however, expressed worry over limited secondary schools space, which he said in return contribute to school drop-outs as learners are not able to secure a place in secondary after qualifying from their various primary schools.
“Statistics are against the odds because 1 out of 3 qualifying students, in last year’s results, didn’t get automatic promotion to secondary school.
” Consequently, more than sixty- five thousand qualified students were unable to continue with their education,” said the US ambassador to Malawi,” he said.
Appreciating the project, President Dr.Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera said he is greatful to the people of the United States for the $90 million project.
” Today we celebrate the completion of the Secondary School Expansion Education Development Program SEED, by extension we also celebrate the close working partnership between the government of Malawi and United States government that this program embodies”
” I therefore want to say to you Ambassador Scott that we are greatful for the $90 million that the American people have committed to this nationwide project,” said Chakwera.
President Chakwera inspecting the school blocks
Chakwera described the project as a hand-up rather than hand out , saying ,beneficiaries of the education facilities would in return fight illiteracy and combat poverty in their various communities.
Education expert, Steve Sharra, believes the development will achieve by far education standards in Malawi.
“Considering the dire situation of secondary school spaces in the country, the SEED project is a huge undertaking. It has thoughtful layers to it to cover aspects of access and equity, as well as, of quality education,” Sharra told the Citizen Eye.
Sharra says more than 70 percent of secondary schools are based in rural areas with sub-standard infrastructure.
“This explains why there are high drop out rates in rural areas than in urban areas. It is against this reason that we commend the US government for the project because it will highly contribute positively towards education standards in Malawi.
Sharra has since advised the government to put more investments in the education sector to create a socio- economic stable and literate nation.
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