Actionaid Malawi has donated solar lamps to primary school pupils in Neno district, a move that is expected to improve performance in education.

The donation was made at Chilimbondo Primary School in Traditional Authority Dambe in the district, where Project Coordinator for Neno Local Rights Programme, Landani Masingati said the lamps would help the pupils with their studies as well as encourage them and others in education.

He said most of the times, learners in remote areas are at a disadvantage because they are limited in studying at night because of lack of light sources as compared to their counterparts in urban settings hence low performance at national examinations.

Masingati said; “The donation is our commitment towards improving the outcomes for the girl child. We have seen that performance of the pupils in remote areas is very low as compared to those in the urban as a result Actionaid took an initiative to enhance performance.”

Masingati revealed that although the lamps, 120 in total, were given to outstanding pupils, they would be used by a group of students living close to one another either at household level or village level.

He however said the notable success of the pilot project will see more lamps being acquired for the pupils in the schools.

Group Village Headman Chakhumbira commended the organisation for their notable contribution towards improving education in the district especially his area where Actionaid has constructed school blocks, teacher’s houses and a community day secondary school.

He said communities are also empowered through their programs which are leading to the development of the area.

Actionaid has been running a 14 year program which runs up to 2018 in Traditional Authority Dambe which is most deprived of social economic development in the district with its topography being the number one factor.