In the wake of the prevailing impact of Cyclone Chido the Ministry of Education has been prompted to suspend classes in selected districts in the Southern and one district in the central region from Monday 16th December 2024.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Education signed by Principal Secretary for Basic and Secondary Education Dr. Rachel Chimbwete Phiri, the move is aimed at ensuring safety of the students and teachers.
“The Ministry of Education would like to inform the students, parents, guardians and the general public that classes for Primary and Secondary schools will be suspended tomorrow, Monday 16th December 2024, due to Cyclone Chido in the following districts: Machinga, Mangochi, Zomba, Phalombe, Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Nsanje, Chikwawa, Blantyre, Neno, Mwanza, Balaka, Ntcheu, Dedza.
“This is to ensure safety of learners and teachers in these districts. All schools should monitor the patterns in their localities and only resume classes on 18th December, 2024 if deemed safe. District Education officers are requested to ensure strict adherence to this notification by all schools and stakeholders” read the notice.
However students in boarding schools in these Divisions are advised to remain in their schools and their Managements to exercise necessary caution to keep student’s safe during this time.
In its alert of Thursday 12th December, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services indicated that CHIDO will move into the Mozambique Channel, with landfall expected in Mozambique close to Nacala by Sunday, December 15, 2024.
“This location is approximately 500km from the Mulanje District border. There is over 60% likelihood that the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Chido could reach Malawi.
“Tropical Cyclone Chido is forecasted to bring significant rainfall to Malawi from Sunday, December 15, through Monday December 16, 2024, potentially leading to flash flooding. In the meantime, hot to very hot weather conditions are expected to continue over the next 48 hours, along with localized rain, due to the presence of an unstable easterly air mass” read the Thursday alert.
According to the New York Times, Tropical Cyclone Chido made landfall in Mozambique on Sunday after causing destruction in Mayotte, a French archipelago of about 300,000 people in the Indian Ocean, where at least 11 people died.
