Despite several interventions by the government of Malawi to contain the high dropout rate especially in primary schools, things seems to be getting worse each passing day in some of public primary schools in the country.
This is due to the fact that most of the children who go to these schools come from poor households, which can be evidently seen living in dire poverty. Chambu Primary School in the capital Lilongwe is of such schools that is faced high drop-out rate.
The school is surrounded with small villages and the people in the villages earn a living through farming and others through some peace works. This pose as a serious challenge to parents as they find it had to support their school going kids with basic needs such as food and clothes.
Concerned with the challenges the pupils face at the school, Temwanani Chilenga, a standard 4 teacher at the school partnered American teachers.
The American teachers provide the learners with texbooks, school uniforms, cloths, shoes, blankets, school bags and food.
The assistant from American teachers has changed the lives of many learners at the school as many now prefer to remain in school than before.
One of such learners is Maria Emmanuel aged 7. The learner was on the verge of dropout of school as she lacked basic needs such food and cloths.
The learner had to travel over a distance of 2kms to get to school on an empty stomach. Sometimes she could miss classes.
But with the coming in of support from American teachers, Emmanuel breathed a sigh of relief as she received a school uniform, shoes and a school bag.
Apart from that, the learner is given food every day at school thereby easing some of the challenges she was facing.
Speaking in an interview with faceofmalawi reporter, Maria expressed gratitude with support from the American teachers.
She also applauded her teacher (Temwani Chilenga) for linking them up with a sister school in America.
Bob Phiri, a homeless boy is another learner who has also benefited from the support. The pupil received clothes, shoes and food.
Speaking in an interview Phiri said he is very happy the support especially clothes given to him. He said clothes are more than a home to him.
Phiri then urged the American teachers to continue rendering support to them.
On her part, Temwanani Chilenga said the support has changed the lives of many learners at the school and the support has made her job easier.
“Their donations are really changing lives of many as the learners now love being in class than before. My teaching is easier too because of the resources that they provide,” said Chilenga.
Eye of the Child recently awarded Chilenga for taking a leading role in improving the lives of needy pupils in Malawi.
