By Sylvester Kumwenda
Vice President Dr Michael Bizwick Usi has called for fostering a conducive environment for primary school learners, to enable the success of education-related programs being implemented in the country.
He made the remarks Monday at Changalu Primary School in Inkosi Nsakambewa in Dowa, where he appreciated Mary’s Meals School Feeding Program at the school.
Usi said for the country to develop, partners have to come together to promote education through various interventions like the school feeding program. However, he said this is not enough for the success of the child.
“For these to bear fruit, we need to look at the environment our children are in. The environment at home, on their way to school and in class.
“We need to foster a conducive environment in all these if the program is to succeed. We can feed our children in school, but if they are mistreated at home, feel out of place in class or feel insecure on their way to school; the program will not succeed,” he said.The Vice President however commended Mary’s Meals for their school feeding program.
“School feeding programs are important as they can improve children’s health, school performance and development of the country.
“As such I should commend Mary’s Meals for, they are doing their part in feeding our children which is also a service to humanity and a display of love,” said Usi.
The Vice President also commended volunteers under the program saying these are essential for success and sustainability.
He then called for continued collaboration amongst stakeholders and applauded the donor community which is aligning their interventions to Malawi’s 2063 agenda.
In her remarks, minister for basic and secondary education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, MP, said the program has the potential to transform the education system and Malawi at large.
“The programme improves enrolment, punctuality of learners, increased attendance in class, reduced absenteeism, and reduced dropout rates among other benefits, leading to quality education,” she said.
But she added saying achieving the 100% coverage goal by 2030 will require sustained efforts and strategic investments.‘The key policy priorities include prioritising the phased roll-out of school meals to all the districts while ensuring equity and inclusion, scaling up investments in kitchens, storage and WASH facilities to support the safe and efficient delivery of meals.
“Also, developing long-term sustainable funding mechanisms and strengthening local engagement in meal preparation, school gardens and hygiene programmes to foster accountability and sustainability,” she said.
In Malawi, Mary’s Meals started its school feeding programs in 2002 with 200 learners.
Currently, it is being implemented in 1185 schools in 24 districts countrywide and reaching out to 1.1 million learners. There are so far around 50000 volunteers under the program.
Founder and Executive Director for Mary’s Meals Magnus MacFarlane Barrow said they are impressed with the success the program has recorded in the past 24 years and intend to reach 1.4 million children by April 2025.“Burmt we would have a huge desire to go forward and would want to see every child in school fed. But we cannot claim we can do that on our own; this is all about partnership, and our growth depends on the generosity of many donors in many different parts of the world.
“So it is also wonderful for me to be able to go back to those donors and speak about today, and how much this is appreciated in Malawi and how important it is that we grow this program,” he said.
Inkosi Nsakambewa earlier applauded the Vice President for his visit.
He said the school still faces other challenges but asked traditional leaders around to be at the forefront in finding solutions before government and other partners come in to help us, that is our responsibility.
This he said will help attract more partners and in owning all interventions that may come.
