Ministry of Education has urged girls in Nkhata Bay District to take their education seriously to become useful citizens in future.

The ministry’s chief logistics officer Mary Dzikom’mangitsa made the call on Tuesday during a modelling session at Mpamba Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) that sought to inspire girls to continue with their education.

The ministry has launched the project after noting that many girls dropped out in 2020 after schools were closed as part of precautionary measures against further spread of Covid-19. It is estimated that 18 865 girls dropped out of school.

Dzikom’mangitsa said the figure was alarming and prompted the ministry to run a back-to-school campaign and initiate the modelling programme to maintain the girls in school.

A girl asks questions during the modelling session

“Sometimes girls lack role models to encourage them to remain in school,” she said.

Media Institute of Southern Africa  Malawi Chapter chairperson Teresa Ndanga and Deputy Commissioner of Police for Central West Region Jacqueline Kainja encouraged the girls to work hard in school to achieve their goals.

Speaking to the girls at Mpamba CDSS in Nkhata Bay and Padre Pio Catholic Secondary School in Lusangazi in Mzuzu, Ndanga urged them not to lose focus due to their day to day challenges.

“These girls need someone to inspire them and talk to them about the challenges they passed through to be at their current level,” she said.

Kainja assured the girls that police, through the Department of Community Policing, conducts awareness campaigns on child abuse. She encouraged the girls to report the cases.

Mpamba CDSS head teacher Catherine Chirwa said 12 girls have dropped out this year alone.

The ministry also held a similar modelling event in Blantyre on Tuesday where Malawi University of Science and Technology vice-chancellor Address Malata motivated girls to work hard in class.

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