District Commissioner for Mzimba, Thomas Chirwa, has asked government and other stakeholders to consider constructing girls boarding facilities in three community day secondary schools if the district is to achieve its 18+ Campaign that stops girls from getting married before the age 18.
Chirwa made the appeal during the launch of the campaign by Plan Malawi International at Emvuyeni Primary School over the weekend.
Chirwa said the District Council Strategic Plan of 2016/17 indicates that the district should implement the education plan by constructing boarding facilities in order to keep girls in school.
He said many girls dropped out of school and opted for marriage because most secondary schools in the district have no proper structures that are conducive for girl learning.
“Mzimba is supposed to be sending more girls in our universities as it were in the past. However, currently, the number of girls advancing with education is decreasing. This is so because they rush into early marriages with people who are working in South Africa. Our research indicates that if we can have boarding facilities for girls in the three community secondary schools before the end of three years, we will manage to keep more girls in school. Some who dropped are those who walk long distances to and from their schools,” said Chirwa.
In his remarks, Plan Malawi Programme Area Manager for the Northern Region, Easter Chirwa, said the campaign will bring back girls to school especially those who get married before the age of 18.
Chirwa also said the project will ensure girls like those with albinism are protected from early marriages, abductions and killings.
Traditional Authority Mtwalo and his subjects welcomed the project and pledged to work with Plan Malawi and other stakeholders to bring to an end early marriages in the area.
During the event, Plan Malawi invited over 10 role models from different careers to motivate and encourage girls to work hard on their education as they build their career.
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