The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has disowned the building that killed four learners at Nantchengwa Primary School in Zomba early this month.
Four learners— Madalitso Nayuma, Jenifer Bonongwe, Gift Mwanyada and Tisunge Francisco— died when a classroom wall fell on them two weeks ago.
The ministry, in a statement released on June 17 and signed by Secretary for Education Justin Saidi, says preliminary investigations into the accident indicate that the block was constructed by community members and not the ministry.
“We further regret to learn that the structure was constructed by the community and not the ministry. The School Improvement Grants resources that the community gets from the government and decides what to do with it [sic] was used to construct the structure,” the statement reads.
Fingers have been pointing at the central government for failing to create a conducive environment for learners in the country, which might have prompted community members to construct the substandard block.
The statement says, following actualisation of decentralisation, the responsibility of constructing school blocks lies with local councils.
It, however, urges district councils and communities to adhere to standard designs and schedules of materials when constructing classrooms.
“Meanwhile, I appeal to district councils and communities to make use of standard designs and schedule of materials provided by both the Education Infrastructure Management Unit under the Ministry [of education] and that of Buildings Department in constructing classrooms under community participation,” reads the statement.
Saidi says, in the wake of the accident, the ministry will look into the matter and see the extent to which primary schools will be decentralised.
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