People around Fatima in Nsanje district can now afford a smile after the District Council through Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funds constructed the much-awaited Mcherenje Junior Primary School block.
For years, learners especially young ones who could not walk for a distance of 10 kilometres to access education at Fatima Primary School, have been learning in dilapidated grass thatched classrooms while using stones as chairs for sitting.
Councilor for Kalulu ward where the school is located, Rose Makiyi said most learners were not reporting for classes during rainy season as the grass thatched classrooms at the institution were also leaking.
“We are excited to have this structure at the school. It has been the community dream to have a good school structure at Mcherenje because there is no any other school close to the area,” she said.
Makiyi said she will continue lobbying government and other stakeholders to consider building another classroom block as the newly constructed one is the only structure at the place.
“We have classes from Standard one to five. Two classrooms are not enough and we need more such decent classrooms,” she added.
Vice Chairperson for Development Committee Mary Thom, said for many years now, communities have been asking for a school block and are so excited that the dream has finally come true.
“This facility will encourage parents to send their children to school because it guarantees their safety unlike the grass thatched classes which were posing a great threat to learners. We are also excited because the classroom blocks are filled with desks,” she said.
Director of Public Works at Nsanje District Council Dasten Mphonde said the council will continue constructing good structures that meets standards.
