A 1926 Primary School Gets First Classroom Desks

A Lilongwe City North primary school considered the very old, located approximately 14 kilometres from the Capital city,  gets classroom desks for the very first time, a donation from Telecom Networks Malawi (TNM)

On Friday afternoon, pupils and teachers from  a 1926, Mlumbwira primary school looked happy at receiving 40 desks valued at K1.2 millionon from Malawi's Premier mobile TNM.

The UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS, a Ghanaian Jazz Saxophonist, Steve Bedi handed over the donation  on behalf of TNM and said "It is disheartening to note that the school with an enrollment of 949 students does not have a single desk." 

Bedi said an education institution with basic facility like desks gives a great motivation to students to do better and expressed the need for government and every person to take responsibility in provisio of the good learning enviromnet to pupils, the "future leaders." 

The UNAIDS Ambassador, who gave a motivationals speech to pupils also urged pupils, parents and guardians to refrain from undulging themselves in immoral behavior which may put them at risk of contracting HIV virus.

TNM Head of Marketing Sobhuza Ngwenya said the donation was part of TNM's corporate social responsibility and affirmative commitment in supporting government efforts in the provision of quality education.

Head Teacher for the school, Matthews Magwaza who thanked TNM for the donation said the school has a lot of problems.

He said, before the donation the school had only 10 plastic chairs for teachers and that students sit on the floor. He said the development has fueled school dropout among girls who mostly feel unconfortable sitting on the floor.

"This donation is a great thing to us" said the head teacher who promised to make sure that their first desks are taken care of.

"Pupils from this school sits on the desk for the first time when they got selected to secondary school" added the head teacher

On other challenges Mlumbwira primary school is experiencing, Mr. Magwaza said there is no staffroom office and that  all meetings are held under the tree. He further said the school has only six classrooms yet the it requires 15 classrooms.