Education, especially educating the girl child, is crucial in ending poverty in Malawi, President Joyce Banda said on Monday.

The President was speaking when she presided over the 2012 MSCE Zodiak Best Girl Awards at Ludzi Girls Secondary School in Mchinji.

“Education is one best weapon that will help fight poverty especially if we educate the girl child,” said President Banda.

Apart from the three girls who got scholarships to study in China after scoring six points, President Banda also announced that the other three girls who passed with seven points each be sent to United States of America.

The President thanked Zodiak Broadcasting Station for the initiative.

“We call for other companies to emulate this gesture that Zodiak has shown,” said President Banda. “To you the awardees I urge you to make success a habit.”

In his remarks, ZBS Managing Director Mr. Gospel Kazako said the station is committed to uplifting education standards in the country.

He also called on government to look into the welfare of teachers whom he said stay months without accessing their salaries.

“Your Excellency, if we would start telling the nation the problems teachers complain to us…the complaints would take most of our programming. We appeal to you to look into their welfare,” said Kazako.

Education Minister Mrs. Eunice Kazembe immediately promised Mr. Kazako that government will look into the concerns to uplift the welfare of teachers.

The Zodiak Girl Child Award started in 2006 and so far eight girls have benefited from China funded scholarships.