Written by Richard Kayenda
In an effort to minimise shortage of desks in primary schools in Mzuzu City, Luke International has donated 120 desks worth K5 million.
Speaking during a handover ceremony, Luke International Community Development Deputy Manager, Tina Dzama, said it is quite displeasing to see learners receiving lessons while seated on the floor due to lack of desks.
Dzama said Luke International decided to make the donation after realising that most public schools in Mzuzu City have a common challenge of lack of desks.
“When we visited the schools, we identified some of the challenges the schools are facing, but at the same time we observed that some of these schools are examination centres so when writing exams, the schools are struggling to accommodate other learners due to lack of desks,” Dzama said.
While acknowledging the initiative, Head teacher for St. Augustine Primary School, Rose Malirana, said the donation is a shot in the arm as the school had very few desks, a situation which rendered most learners sitting on the floor during lessons and examinations.
Malirana said: “we had 94 desks which are not enough because we have 1150. So, we have a shortage and in some classes, some learners are sitting on the floor.”
On his part, District Education Manager for Mzimba North, Cossam Mpande, asked the head teachers whose schools have benefited from the donation to take good care of the desks and renovate them whenever they are damaged.
Apart from St. Augustine Primary School, St. Peter’s Primary and Moyale Barracks Primary Schools also received the desks.
