Education authorities have hailed the United Nation (UN) Joint Program of Girls Education (JPEG) for improving girl’s retention in schools and reduced teenage pregnancies and maariges in targeted schools in Kasungu.

Director of Education, Youth and Sports for Kasungu, Joseph Chioza said this today when Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi Ingrid Marie Mikelsen visited Kawiya Primary School in the district to appreciate the impact.

In Kasungu, 30 schools are benefiting from the program which is promoting good hygiene, sanitation, school feeding program, child rights, sexual and reproductive health and in-service teacher mentorship.

“Such interventions have contributed to the drop of school dropout rate 4% from 4.7% last academic calendar.” Said Deputy Director of Water, Health, HIV/AIDS and Nutrition, Moreen Makuza.

Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi, Ingrid Marie Mikelsen said while JPGE program minimize this year, her government is impressed with outcome and will explore how to incorpare similar intervention in other programs to empower youths in the country.