By Jones Gadama
In a significant boost to education in Rumphi, the District Council has handed over an 80-bed girls’ hostel at Junju Community Day Secondary School and a two-classroom block at Mdimwa Primary School, both constructed with financial support from the World Bank-funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project worth K197 million.
During the handover ceremony, District Commissioner Emmanuel Bulukutu urged parents and teachers at the two schools to collaborate and fully utilize the structures to improve learner performance. He emphasized the importance of taking care of the facilities so that future generations can also benefit from them.
“The classroom block at Mdimwa will provide a conducive learning environment, and we expect the school to attract more children and improve academic performance,” Bulukutu said.
The new hostel at Junju Community Day Secondary School will greatly benefit students, particularly girls, who can now focus on their studies without the burden of long-distance travel.
Student Faith Mwandira expressed her gratitude, saying, “We have been walking long distances to attend school, but the hostel will now give us an opportunity to concentrate on our studies and improve performance.” The hostel is expected to improve the overall learning environment and boost girls’ enrollment and retention rates.
At Mdimwa Primary School, the two-classroom block will address the issue of limited classroom space, which previously forced some learners to study under trees.
Headteacher Khaula Msiska welcomed the new structure, saying it will attract more children to the school and provide a better learning environment.
“The structure will enable us to accommodate more learners and provide quality education,” Msiska said.
The GESD project has been instrumental in improving infrastructure and service delivery in Rumphi.
The project, worth millions of kwacha, has funded various initiatives, including the construction of market shelters, a pharmacy at Rumphi District Hospital, and a teacher development center at Old Salawe.
These developments demonstrate the council’s commitment to enhancing education and healthcare services in the district.
The handover ceremony highlights the council’s efforts to improve the quality of education and promote girl-child education.
The new facilities are expected to have a positive impact on the academic performance and well-being of learners in the district.
As the council continues to implement projects under the GESD, it is essential for stakeholders to work together to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of these initiatives.
In related news, Rumphi District Council has been recognized for its performance in the Local Authority Performance Assessment (LAPA) and is expected to receive significant funding from GESD.
The council’s efforts to improve service delivery and infrastructure development are expected to have a lasting impact on the district’s development.
