ActionAid constructs girls hostel in Rumphi
The Executive Director of the ActionAid Malawi Ms Pamela Kuwali has asked the government of Malawi to increase its budget on education sector to construct more girls hostels as one way of ensuring that more girls are staying in schools.
She was speaking during the handover ceremony of the the K25 million girls hostel in Rumphi.
The 72 capacity hostel was constructed at Bolero Secrondary School in the district by the ActionAid in their quest to promote gender responsive, public education in the country.
Kuwali said increasing the budget to the education sector could easily deal with hiccups of early school drop out in girls as they will be staying in schools hence avoiding unplanned pregnancies.
“This is just part of we as ActionAid’s numerous interventions aimed at promoting rights and empowerment of girls and women in Rumphi and Malawi at large.
“Malpractice such as corruption, illicit financial flows and harmful tax incentives are not good as they impede the realization of the right of girls to education for the majority of underprivileged learners in Malawi,” said Kuwali.
During the ceremony, Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe, District education stakeholders, Rumphi Council officials, learners, parents and community, ActionAid Malawi Executive directors Pamela Kuwali were in attendance.
On behalf of the Ministry of Education, was North Education Division Manager, Mr. Jennings Kayira, who commended ActionAid Malawi and Chikulamayembe Women Forum for the donation, saying the gesture is in line with the Education Ministry’s policy on girl education.
“Your quest to end gender-based violence and gender inequalities among women and girls is something that can’t go without our appreciation. Today we are witnessing this enormous occasion where you are handing over a girls’ hostel to us.”
Kaira added that the government of Malawi will continue working with various stakeholders to ensure that girls successfully complete primary and secondary education.
One of the learners, Tiyamike Ntayo, said the hostel will give her and fellow learners ample time to focus on education rathan ther travelling long distances to and from school and performing household chores at home.
ActionAid Malawi is also implementing an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Education programme dubbed School Readiness Initiative with funding from the Rodger Federer Foundation.
The ECD is being implemented in Lilongwe, Balaka, Mulanje and Phalombe districts.
