According to the District Education Manager responsible for Mzimba North, Kossam Mphande, some full primary schools have only two qualified teachers and this state of affairs compromises on the quality of education being offered to pupils in the schools.
Speaking at Magogo Junior Primary School in the district during official hand-over of a two million kwacha teacher’s house courtesy of TNM Ufulu@50 promotion, Mphande said the shortfalls also affect how schools perform at Primary School Leaving Certificate level.
“Many of the primary schools, especially in the remotest areas like here at Magogo, there are few teachers. Many of them shun such schools and it is difficult to force them. And when we post lady teachers to remote areas, they do not stay long.
They would tell you after a few months that they are married and are following husband. Whether all cases are true or not, it is difficult to tell as they bring marriage certificates,” lamented Mphande.
“The other challenge in such places is infrastructure. Like Magogo school has one permanent classroom block against four classes and there are two permanent teachers’ houses,” Mphande added.
One more teacher’s house has been constructed at Magogo Junior Primary School which is expected to make a difference. It has been built through the two million kwacha prize money that was donated by a 45 year old farmer, Sungani Mkandawire, one of the winners of the Ufulu at 50 promotion.
Mkandawire is one of the 50 TNM customers that won a total of 100 million kwacha who were required to choose a social responsibility project in the promotion that TNM conducted in 2014 to celebrate the country’s 50th anniversary.
“I am very happy to have made a difference at this institution by providing our teachers with decent accommodation,” Mkandawire said.
TNM’s Regional Distribution Manager for the north, Yamikani Bakuwa, said construction of the additional house at the school will motivate teachers to come and teach at the school.
“The school is located in the remote area and it needs some unique things to attract teachers. Through this promotion, we are proud as TNM to have made an impact in communities of this sort,” Bakuwa said.
“The hand-over of these facilities demonstrates our company’s commitment to fulfill its promises to customers in Mzimba and the entire northern region,” he added.
Located in the area of Inkosi Mpherembe in Mzimba District, Magogo Junior Primary School has a total enrolment of 210 pupils from standard 1 to 4 and has four teachers, two of them qualified.
