Ntcheu needs K385 million for school renovations
Ntcheu District Chief Education Officer Medson Mbilizi said in an interview that an assessment by the district council revealed that funds amounting to K385 million are needed for the works. Ministry of Education spokesperson Chikondi Chimala was not immediately available to comment on the matter. However, Ntcheu District Council Chairperson…
By Pemphero Malimba
Education authorities in Ntcheu have said inadequate funding is affecting their efforts to renovate and reconstruct classroom blocks that were damaged by floods induced by tropical storms Ana and Gombe.
Classroom blocks in several primary schools in the district were destroyed by the storms earlier this year.
Ntcheu District Chief Education Officer Medson Mbilizi said in an interview that an assessment by the district council revealed that funds amounting to K385 million are needed for the works.
“Some classroom blocks were completely damaged and need reconstruction,” Mbilizi said.
He added that the council hopes resources will be available as soon as possible so that learning can become normal in the affected schools.
“Ntcheu was heavily hit by the storms and education was disturbed, but we ensured that learning should not be compromised. We still appeal to well-wishers to support us financially or materially so that effective teaching and learning can continue,” Mbilizi said.
Ministry of Education spokesperson Chikondi Chimala was not immediately available to comment on the matter.
However, Ntcheu District Council Chairperson Councillor Joshua Kwachera said the council intended to engage relevant authorities so that they can allow the utilisation of resources from the District Development Fund and the Constituency Development Fund to bail out some schools.
At least 61 primary schools in the district were affected by the storms, which hit most parts of the country’s Southern Region.