Improving Secondary Education in Malawi (ISEM) is an EU- Funded Project that aims at empowering Malawi’s education sector and its capacity to satisfy the economy’s need for educated youths through expansion and improvement of equitable and gender-balanced secondary education. On Monday the 18th of February 2018, Her Excellency Sandra Paesen officially handed over Chankhanga CDSS to the ministry of Education Science and Technology.
Speaking during the event H.E Sandra Paesen, EU’s Ambassador to Malawi said the poor infrastructure, lack of teaching and learning materials, and high student to teacher ratio are indicators that testify the need that is there in the education sector despite efforts set across by the government of Malawi. The ambassador also commended the Government of Malawi for prioritizing education in the budget of Malawi as it indicates the zeal that Malawi as a whole has for education. “The EUs support is aligned to government’s vision of improving the country’s education system” said Paesen.
Speaking in an interview representative of Education Mr. Justin Saidi, the Secretary for Education, Science and Technology who said as government he was happy that EU has supported the 21 schools a thing which has also helped in increasing access to quality education. In his comment the P.S acknowledged the high standard of the School which is overwhelmingly beautiful “When you look at the infrastructures they are not even CDSSs but full secondary schools because they have everything required at a school” said Saidi.
Also present at the event was Mr. Nations Msowoya the Head of Unit- NAO Support Unit, who appreciated the funds that are being laid in the implementation process of the Programme as currently EUR 16,500 000 has been set across as an estimated cost for the rehabilitation works and EUR 5,900 000 for textbooks and other teaching and learning materials.
The Deputy Chairperson of Municipal Council of Kasungu District also appreciated the impact that the school has in the District and appreciated the EU for bringing such development at Kasungu.
Besides Chankhanga CDSS, 20 more CDSSs are being supported across the country by supporting the decentralization process for improved management of secondary schools; training and upgrading teachers to achieve minimum qualifications; equipping of schools with laboratories, computer labs, and teaching & learning materials; increasing access to secondary education through expansion of selected schools including girls hostels, and wheelchair accessible structures, provision of bursaries and other support to girls and vulnerable students.
GoM representative Mr. Justin Saidi (L) symbolically presents school resources to Mr. Mackford Chinambalala the Head Master of Chankhanga CDSS