Community leaders around Jalawe Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Sub Traditional Authority Njikura in Rumphi District have asked duty-bearers to facilitate connection of electricity to the school.

They have also demanded the construction of a science laboratory, a library, girls’ hostel, a kitchen and a dining hall to improve quality of education at the school.

Jalawe CDSS Management Committee chairperson Geoffrey Mkandawire said this on Monday when United States-based Cross Catholic Outreach International visited the school.

He said the school’s environment does not motivate learners to work hard.

“We want children from the area to get quality education as their counterparts elsewhere. We believe that education is the future of our children.

So, we want a conducive learning environment,” said Mkandawire.

The head teacher Mistus Munthali said the structures, which they inherited from the primary school in 1998, have 50 desks against 580 students.

He said girls fail to effectively participate in class as they sit on benches.

“This school faces many challenges despite having dedicated teachers. We don’t have a science laboratory and a library. We use the deputy head teacher’s office as laboratory,” said Munthali.

He also said there is no reliable water source at the school.

Munthali with some students in a classroom

In an interview, Njikura Area Development Committee chairperson Leah Mtende said they are ready to contribute 25 percent of construction materials to build the hostels, laboratory and teachers’ houses.

“What we appeal for is other building materials to come up with an infrastructure befitting a secondary school,” he said.

However, Rumphi district director of education, youth and sports Emmanuel Mwalilino referred us to the education division manager (North) Jennings Kayira.

But the EDM said government is doing its part in constructing laboratories in CDSSs and Jalawe CDSS will be considered.

Karonga Diocese of the Catholic Church Caritas secretary Mwani Shaba said they will see how best they can come in

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