Ministry suspends classes in the Southern Region due to Tropical Cyclone Freddy

Ministry of Education has suspended classes in the Southern Region due to bad weather conditions, particularly the tropical cyclone Freddy.

Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education, Chikondano Mussa, made the announcement in a press statement released on 12 March 2023.

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Mussa said the ministry has received expert information from the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services that the direct effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy being experienced in the Southern Region Districts of Nsanje, Chikwawa, Mulanje, Phalombe, Blantyre, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Mwanza, Neno and Zomba will intensify.

“With the Cyclone expecting to hit the region this evening or tomorrow 13th March, 2023 and dying down by Tuesday, as a precautionary measure, the Ministry of Education has temporarily suspended physical classes in all learning institutions in the aforementioned districts on Monday, 13th March and Tuesday, 14th March, 2023. Further to that, learners in boarding schools are advised to stay indoors, as a measure of safety in order to preserve life,” said the statement.

The ministry advised that during the suspension of classes, teachers and learners are encouraged to use available online platforms and radio lessons.

“In particular, when physical classes resume on Wednesday, 15th March, 2023, teachers are urged to provide remedial lessons to recover the lost time,” read the statement.

in the statement by the of on 12 March Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services  As of Sunday, 12th March 2023, DCCMS had projected that there was a 100 per cent possibility that TCF will trigger rains exceeding 150 mm on Sunday, persisting into Monday and Tuesday the 14th of March.

“The torrential rains will be accompanied by possibly damaging winds with high likelihood of flooding. The areas to be highly impacted are Chikwawa, Nsanje, Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Phalombe, Mwanza and Blantyre and parts of Neno, Zomba and some Lakeshore districts,”read the statement.

In the statement, DCCMS has further projected that rainfall amounts over the southern part could cumulatively reach 400mm to 500mm within 72 hours, with Monday expected to be the wettest day.