Child parliamentarians from Nkhoma and Chilenje education zones in Lilongwe have asked duty-bearers to improve access to quality education in the district.
They made the call on Wednesday during a children’s parliament session organised by World Vision Malawi in Lilongwe.
Ethel Malizani, an opposition legislator, moved a motion to raise a concern on harmful cultural practices which fuel child marriages in rural areas.

Steven: We need electricity in schools

She said: “Madam Speaker, we are afraid to say many learners are dropping out due to pregnancies and early marriages fuelled by harmful cultural practices.
“Therefore, we demand that these cultural practices should be abolished.”
John Victor, sitting on the government bench, asked the Minister of Education to increase funding for primary schools.
“Rural schools lack basic facilities such as classrooms, toilets and potable water,” he said.

On the other hand, Leader of Opposition Rafiki Fackson moved a motion on the security of learners with disabilities.
In response, Malawi Parliament’s Nkhotakota North East legislator Overstone Kondowe, who represented the Parliamentary Committee for Social and Community Affairs, said the children raised real issues affecting learners.
He pledged to take the issues to Parliament for deliberations.

World Vision Malawi advocacy manager Lizi Lombe expressed satisfaction with the way children articulated their issues.
She said the children’s Parliament is one of the initiatives they are using to build relevant life skills in children.
“The programme teaches children about politics and electoral processes within their own context and enhances their curiosity to demand services from duty-bearers,” said Lombe.
The session was closed with an announcement from the Speaker Sleshtina Steven, who tackled rural electrification, saying it is what learners need to support their education. n

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