By Linda Kwanjana
Minister of Education, Hon. Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima M.P, has condemned the increase of vandalism of school property by students in some secondary schools in the country.
The Minister warned that students caught in such misconduct will be expelled from school and will not be given any opportunity to continue their education in any public school.
She sounded this warning bell on Thursday, at Mphomwa Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Kasungu where she inspected the construction works of classroom blocks and laboratories being financed by the Malawi Government and the World Bank.
Wirima said it is very disappointing and disheartening that while the government is trying to improve education, there are some unruly students who are vandalizing classroom blocks and learning materials, especially if they do not agree with some of the decisions by school managers.
“To bring sanity, we will not be left with any choice rather than expelling such ungovernable students who spoil other students with a clear vision of their future,” she warned.
She cited Robert Blake in Dowa has only form ones, while Khola and Nachitheme in Ntcheu as schools which have not been remain closed since students damaged property and classrooms which demands huge sums of money is for restoration.
“Let me emphasize that as a ministry we do not condone the practice of vandalising property in our schools. We have many students who come to school to shape their future. As such we will not allow a few students to disrupt the education of their peers. I therefore urge students to follow the right channels of presenting their grievances as opposed to vandalism,” Wirima said.
She then asked parents and guardians to give the right advice to their children, realizing that a child’s behaviour starts at home.
Before visiting Kasungu, the Education Minister inspected a similar project at Msongwe CDSS in Mzuzu City.
Ministry of Education is implementing the Equity with Quality and Learning at Secondary School (EQUALS) project in 13 districts in order to improve quality of science and mathematics teaching in Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSSs) and increase the number of students accessing secondary education especially in remote areas in the country.
Through the EQUALS Project, 103 secondary schools in the country have been expanded to increase the learning space to spur the performance of students in CDSSs.
