Plan International Malawi yesterday celebrated the achievements of this year’s Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) examinations star performers by awarding them monetary prizes and other necessities to help them prepare for secondary education.

The top 10 performers, a girl and nine boys, received a travelling bag, school books and K50 000 each during the ceremony held at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe.

Plan International regional director and special representative for Middle East, Eastern and Southern Africa Roger Yates said seeing the children excel in their education encourages the organisation’s ambition to do more.

He said: “I am impressed with the work of Plan International in Malawi, especially on children’s rights and equality for girls and seeing that even after Cyclone Freddy, the programmes are helping families not just to recover but to be stronger.

“It raises our ambition to note that through our programmes, we are really delivering our purpose which is to contribute to the development of Malawi.”

Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara, who was the guest of honour, said the fact that most of the awardees come from a poor background should teach the nation that despite challenges rocking the country, there is still a chance to get up and build a better Malawi.

She said: “Most of these students are coming from very challenged families in terms of resources, but that did not stop them from working hard. I think that’s what as a country we need to learn that no matter how hard life is, if we are determined, we will get what we want.

“And the beauty about it is that these learners are aiming high, some want to be doctors, some lawyers, as a nation we can support them to attain their goals.”

The event was held under the theme ‘Celebrating success, interrogating challenges and opportunities for further cooperation to build back better post-Covid-19 global pandemic and Cyclone Freddy’.

Hara said the theme resonated deeply with the urgency and resilience required in the present times.

On her part, Minister of Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima applauded the parents and teachers for their contribution to the learners’ success and urged the learners to continue working hard.

The event was also attended by Minister of Water and Sanitation Abida Mia, Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule, some members of Parliament, Anti-Corruption Bureau director general Martha Chizuma, representatives of some United Nations agencies, members of the diplomatic corps and civil society representatives.

The dignitaries at the meeting contributed about K3 million for the learners.

Yates took the opportunity to announce that the current Plan International Malawi country director Phoebe Kasoga is leaving the country and will be succeeded by Mwape Mulumbi, who is already in.

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