World Vision International (WVI) has donated 167 desks and nine chairs, valued at K104 million, to Mchenga and Mpimbi Primary Schools under Nsambe Education Zone in Neno to improve quality of education in the district.
Speaking during the handover at Mchenga Primary School on Wednesday, World Vision District Programs Manager for Mwanza, Neno and Nsanje, Samson Semu, said they made the donation to improve learning environment among learners.
“One of World Vision’s aspirations in the 2021-2025 strategy is to ensure children are able to read and write with comprehension at an early age. For that to happen, learners need to have a good learning environment and this includes facilities such as desks, among others,” Semu said.
He said the donation was part of the organisation’s contribution to government towards uplifting education standards in Malawi, in particular, Chilimbondo area where World Vision is implementing its programme.
World Vision made the school furniture donation with support from their sponsors in the United States of America.
Primary Education Advisor for Nsambe Education Zone, Mixion Migoza, thanked World Vision for the donation saying most schools in the zone lack desks and have inadequate classrooms blocks, among others.
He said Mchenga Primary School, which has an enrolment of 1,314, did not have desks prompting learners to sit on the floor thereby compromising school attendance among girls.
Migoza said the desks will help boost school enrolment as other learners, especially girls, were not coming to school because they felt uncomfortable sitting on the floor.
“Apart from lack of desks, the school has inadequate toilets and does not have change rooms for girls and this affects their education,” Migoza added.
A standard eight learner, Francis Malemia, thanked World Vision for the gesture saying the desks will improve school attendance especially during cold seasons as most learners stay away from school because of cold weather.
