Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) has condemned what it has described as the reprehensible act of vandalism at Kamwanya Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Mchinji.
During the vandalism, the students torched 7, 200 textbooks and while information and communication technologies (ICT) laboratories were maliciously damaged.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, and signed by CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe and the coalition’s board chairperson, Dr. Limbani Nsapato, observed that the deplorable incident follows a disturbing trend of school vandalism across the nation, with nine secondary schools already falling victim to such senseless acts.
“The destruction at Kamwanya CDSS, including the deliberate destruction of educational resources and infrastructure, is an affront to the values of education and progress. Barely two weeks after the appalling incident at Mphomwa CDSS in Kasungu district, where teaching and learning materials were damaged, the library at Kamwanya CDSS, stocked with invaluable textbooks, was reduced to ashes. Additionally, the newly built ICT laboratories were disfigured, further exacerbating the loss,” reads part of the statement.
Kondowe and Nsapato bemoaned that such acts occur when efforts are being made to improve educational facilities and opportunities for students.
They said the closure of schools in Ntcheu district due to similar acts of vandalism underscores the severity of this issue and its detrimental impact on education.
But the two education activists have commended the swift action taken by the Ministry of Education and law enforcement agencies in apprehending those responsible for this vandalism.
“The incarceration of nine students involved in the Kamwanya incident sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated, and appropriate consequences will be enforced. 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 root causes of indiscipline in schools. Together, we must strive to create a conducive learning environment where respect, responsibility, and integrity are upheld,” they said.
“The repeated occurrences of vandalism in schools demand urgent attention and concerted efforts to address the underlying issues. We strongly advocate for stringent measures to hold perpetrators accountable, including criminal prosecution, financial restitution for damages, and expulsion from public institutions. Additionally, we emphasize the crucial role of parents in fostering ethical behavior and the responsibility of students to report misconduct. Teachers must also promote mechanisms for peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue,” stressed Kondowe and Nsapato, assuring that CSEC stands resolute in its condemnation of the reprehensible vandalism at Kamwanya CDSS in Mchinji.
