Water shortages have become a constant problem at Mulanje Secondary School subsequently causing sanitation crisis.
Head teacher for the school, Wilfred Nyapwala, said because the school often operates with dry taps, there is need do dig pit latrines as a temporary solution to the sanitation woes.
“The water board has been failing to supply us with water, so as an institution, we managed to drill one borehole but we still need pit latrines now than ever before,” Nyapwala said.
He also said the school is currently facing shortage of classrooms for over 400 students it accommodates.
“You see, this is a big school and we were supposed to have at least 12 classrooms, we have eight classrooms instead, not to mention the dilapidated state our hostels are in,” he said adding that, “most students here are sleeping on the floor due to shortage of beds.”
Nyapwala said this on the sidelines of a donation ceremony of 100 desks worth K3.2 million by the school’s former students.
Chairperson for the group Charles Price, said later that the donation is one way of giving back to the school.
“We once visited the school to appreciate the challenges[it was facing] one of which is shortage of desks, that is why we mobilised ourselves and made this donation, we also intend to purchase another consignment before the end this year so that we should do away with the desk challenges,” Price said.
But Senior Secondary School Inspector and Advisor in the Shire Highlands Education Division, Samuel Mandauka, said government alone cannot meet all the needs in the sector.
“We are working with various stakeholders including former students to curb the challenges facing all these institutions to reduce and even end all these challenges,” he said.
Mulanje Secondary school was opened in 1965.
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