Tag Archives: CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe

Education, Malawi

CSEC demands tough action against rogue higher learning institutions

Shaffie A Mtambo

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) has called for decisive enforcement action against institutions awarding unrecognised qualifications, warning that Malawi’s education system risks losing credibility if urgent reforms are not implemented.

In a statement signed by Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe and Board Chairperson Limbani Nsapato, CSEC responded to a joint press release by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and the Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA), which exposed the awarding of unrecognised qualifications by certain training institutions.

While commending the two regulators for bringing the matter to public attention, CSEC said the revelations highlight deeper and long standing regulatory weaknesses that have allowed rogue institutions to operate openly for years.

According to the coalition, some questionable providers have been advertising foreign qualifications, enrolling unsuspecting students and collecting tuition fees despite lacking proper accreditation.

CSEC observed that regulatory oversight has often appeared reactive and overly cautious.

“Regulation cannot be exercised with kid gloves when the futures of Malawi’s young people are at stake,” the statement reads, stressing that the consequences of inaction are too severe to ignore.

CSEC has therefore urged NCHE and TEVETA to go beyond issuing warnings and instead fully utilise enforcement powers granted under the NCHE Act and the TEVET Act.

The coalition is demanding the immediate closure of illegal institutions, prosecution of offenders, imposition of meaningful penalties and public blacklisting of non compliant entities.

The organisation warned that anything less than visible and decisive enforcement will embolden malpractice and further erode public confidence in Malawi’s higher education and technical training systems.

CSEC says the controversy underscores the urgent need to finalise and enact the Malawi National Qualifications Framework (MNQF) Bill, which remains pending.

The coalition argues that the absence of a harmonised national qualifications framework has contributed to regulatory fragmentation and created loopholes exploited by rogue operators.

If enacted, the MNQF Bill is expected to strengthen quality assurance systems, align academic and technical education pathways and improve international comparability of Malawian qualifications.

It would also close systemic gaps that enable the proliferation of fraudulent and unaccredited awards.

CSEC described unrecognised qualifications as more than administrative irregularities, calling them a direct assault on academic integrity, labour market credibility, and national development.

The coalition noted that such qualifications distort employer confidence, disadvantage legitimate institutions and leave students burdened with debt and certificates that carry no legal or professional value.

“Malawi cannot build Malawi 2063 on compromised standards and fraudulent foundations,” the statement emphasised, linking the issue to the country’s long term development ambitions.

To strengthen oversight, CSEC has proposed sustained joint inspections, publication of an accessible and regularly updated national register of accredited institutions and programmes and the establishment of a protected whistle-blower mechanism for students and staff to report malpractice.

The coalition also stressed that accountability must extend not only to offending institutions but also to systemic lapses that allowed the malpractice to flourish.

The statement concludes that Malawi now requires firm, lawful, transparent and uncompromising enforcement backed by structural reform through the enactment of the MNQF Bill to protect students and safeguard the integrity of the nation’s education system.

Education, Malawi, Regional

SADC civil rights groups push for digital learning

Lloyd M’bwana

CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe; SADC must embrace digital learning

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) have challenge SADC nations leaderships to embrace digital learning from pre schools to tertiary levels for education transformation.

SADC CSOs under the umbellar body Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) told the news conference on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in the capital Lilongwe that governments must ensure that appropriate governance and regulation are in place to protect education as a basic human right and a
public good while also leveraging the capacities of the private sector to accelerate and improve digital
learning.

The civil rights groups were speaking after submitted  its report to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Education and Training and Science, Technology and Innovation, during their meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi, 13th -17th June, 2022.

SADC CSOs on education

“We, CSOs working in the education sector in the SADC region, would like to illuminate how technology can play a role as a part of the larger systemic efforts to transform education, making it more inclusive, equitable, effective, relevant and sustainable.

“We are convinced that technology alone cannot achieve our education goals, but it can be a catalytic component of education reforms that will prepare children, young people, as well as adults, to lead needed transformations,” reads part of the statement.

Added, “Therefore, we posit to the SADC Education leadership that technology can – and must – help advance our aspirations for quality inclusive education (From Pre-School) based on principles of social and economic justice, equity, and respect for human rights.

“We are aware that digital technologies in education can contribute to wider systemic efforts to improve learning for all by: leveraging technology that is fit to the country context, and foster parental engagement in the child learning process and noting the considerable promise of digital technologies to support positive change and transformations in education, its potential is regularly stymied by several interrelated challenges including insufficient access to electricity and internet connectivity especially among the rural communities”.

CSOs demands on digital learning including: appropriate governance and regulation are in place to protect education as a basic human right and a public good while also leveraging the capacities of the private sector to accelerate and improve digital learning.

“Member states invest in having electricity accessible to all schools and communities in rural areas; the
region has untapped potential for solar power in areas not connected to the main grid
member states should provide friendly and inclusive sensitive hardware to enable teaching and
learning processes.

“Member states must build and maintain robust, free public learning content and platforms that
catalyze human-centered learning experiences. stronger effort is made to develop trusted online spaces that share quality-controlled, free, curriculum-aligned, easy-to-access, and contextually relevant digital learning resources. Member states establish mechanisms to increase access to connectivity to schools,” reads the statement.

CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe added that the achievement of Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG) 4 and the transformation of education within the SADC region will  depend heavily on teachers and education personnel that are empowered, adequately recruited, well trained and supported.

Education, Malawi

CSEC calls for gazetting of commencement date for UNIMA de-linking

Angella Semu
Kondowe

By Angella Semu

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s education rights body Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) has asked the Minister of Education to gazette the commencement date for de-linking of UNIMA into three universities.

CSEC made an appeal in a letter to the Minister of Education signed by CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe.

In the letter, Kondowe said the recent decision by the University of Malawi
Council to axe the delinking process is unreasonable and has disregarded the 2019 Acts of Parliament aimed at repealing the University of Malawi Act, 1998 (Cap 30.02 of the Laws of Malawi).

The de-linking process that was approved in 2017 by UNIMA council and senate and parliament before it was signed into a law by the office of the President is supposed to disjoin UNIMA into three universities; Chancellor College to be the new UNIMA, College of Medicine and Kamuzu College to merge into Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) while the Polytechnic to be Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS).

CSEC has opposed the council’s argument that the Senate does not hold the powers to recommend delinking of UNIMA within the existing law which contradicts with the provision of section 10 (1)(a) of the UNIMA Act which places the Council with a duty to consider the recommendations from the Senate.

Kondowe mentioned that the Council’s decision is misleading to the ministry, the Presidency, the National Assembly and the public and such decision was not supposed to be made after an order of the court or counsel from the Office of the Attorney General on the legal implications of the new law if there were doubts about the law.

CSEC emphasized on the need to gazette the commencement date which is in congruence with section 74 of the Constitution of Malawi and Tonse Alliance administration corresponding to the statement made by the State President, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera on 4th September 2020 on the urge to increase enrolment in universities through construction of Inkosi Mbelwa University and
establishment of Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences.

CSEC added that delinking of colleges from UNIMA was done before as shown by the current LUANAR which was initially Bunda college under UNIMA and by doing so, the college managed to increase enrolment, become more creative in terms of establishing new degree programmes and attain financial suitability.

CSEC has therefore given UNIMA council 7 days to revoke the decision to cancel delinking process starting from 22nd January 2021.

Education, Malawi

CSEC demands reversal of UNIMA’s delinking cancellation within seven days

Lloyd M’bwana
Kondowe in the centre

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s education rights body Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) on Friday, January 22, 2021 demanded University of Malawi (UNIMA) Council to reverse its decision of cancelling UNIMA’s delinking withi seven days.

CSEC observes that UNIMA Council’s decision is unacceptable and called for that needs to be not entertained.

The education rights body observes that UNIMA council has no power to make such decision surpassing Malawi Parliament that passed the law of delinking the public universities.

CSEC rebuked UNIMA Council to desist from making political and personal interests over national matter.

The body therefore urged the Council members to step aside that enable people could facilitate the delinking of UNIMA process.

Addressing the news conference in the capital Lilongwe, CSEC Executive director Benedicto Kondowe urged President Lazarus Chakwera to intervene on the matter that UNIMA council decision be stopped forthwith.

“CSEC believes that the delinking of UNIMA has been long overdue and therefore, it would be unfortunate that the debate should be restarted when the same had already been concluded.

“We recommend that the council should rescind its decision preferably within the next seven days,” demanded Kondowe.

He added, “What has remained now is the Ministry of education to set a date for commencement of delinking of UNIMA as all processes was done”

According to a statement signed by Deputy University Registrar of UNIMA Ashanie Gawa, the council held its 117th extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 where the decision to set aside the delinking was made.

During its extraordinary 102nd meeting in 2017, the council and the senate agreed to delink the constituent colleges of the university of Malawi. The move was later endorsed by Malawi Parliament.

But at its meeting on January 20, 2021 the Council realized the decision was ultra vires (done beyond the two structures’ legal power or authority) and not in line with the powers and functions of the Senate and the Council.

“In view of the foregoing, council at this sitting of the 117th extraordinary meeting resolved to set aside the process of delinking the constituent colleges of the University of Malawi.

Council, however, resolved that a functional review be conducted to guide council on the way forward in addressing areas which require improvement and to embrace aspirations towards enhancing the efficiency of the university,” reads part of the memo addressed to principals of UNIMA colleges.

The University of Malawi consists of The Polytechnic, Chancellor College, College of Medicine and Kamuzu College of Nursing.

Education, Top News

Malawi’s political parties commit to CSEC Citizen education agenda 2024

Lloyd M’bwana

Malawi’s political parties commit to CSEC Citizen education agenda 2024

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Some major political parties a head of May 21 tripartite elections on Wednesday committed themselves to Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) Citizen education agenda 2024, a document  that contains Malawians’ aspirations for education in the country.

Education Agenda espouses the citizenry policy options and alternatives in the area of education.

The paper  highlights what needs to be done as well as setting the long-term education vision.

The document examines the pre-existing policies, strategies and laws and their adequancies and inadequacies to the shared education vision for Malawi.

The agenda takes into consideration the MGDS III, ESP and other national instruments which set the following, as priority areas in education: Access and Equity; Quality and Relevance and Management and Governance.

Political parties that have committed to the agenda including Malawi Congress Party (MCP), UTM Party, United Democratic Front (UDF) as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) failed to show as usual for national issue interests.

Launching the document in the capital Lilongwe, Executive Secretary of the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC),David Nungu observed that the coalition recognizes the great role that education plays in development of the peoples.

Nungu added that success in the health sector is dependent on levels of education.

“Failure in smallholder farmers adopting modern farming technologies and other extension services is attributed to the education levels of the people. Slow growth in the private sector is attributed to education; as it is argued that the education system in Malawi fails to cultivate innovative and entrepreneurial minds. Improving the education sector in Malawi has far-reaching positive impacts on the other sectors of economic growth and human development.

“Representative of the Political parties here in, the call is clear My Education, My Vote!  We want to live up to the National Education Plan’s vision, which is “to enhance the role of education as a catalyst for socio-economic development”!

He adds; “An educated and skilled citizenry will live healthier and longer; will be more peaceful and unifying; will be more transparent and accountable; will be more engaging in fighting social ills such as corruption; will be more participative in democracy; will be more resilient to climate change; will be more economically- empowered and self-reliant as well as respectful of other people’s rights and responsibilities!”.

CSEC Executive Director  Benedicto Kondowe said the agenda takes into consideration the MGDS III, ESP and other national instruments which set the following, as priority areas in education: Access and Equity; Quality and Relevance and Management and Governance.

“The document contains Malawians’ aspirations for the upcoming government to invest and deliver inclusive and sustainable, quality and equitable education and life long learning for all Malawians.

“The paper asks political party that wins elections to make sure that there is early Childhood Development Centres everywhere, no  to Children learning under the tree, no to students failing education because of resource constraints,  to students having no opportunities for technical and vocation education, no  to inequitable access to higher education in Malawi”, urges Kondowe

In her remarks, UTM Party representative Dr. Jessie Kabwila assures the nation of total  commitment towards the implementation of the agenda once voted into power saying the paper carries her party’s manifesto extracts.

 

Why the Education Agenda Now?

Education has an unsurmountable potential in fostering economic growth and human development in general. The May 2019 Presidential, Parliamentary and Ward Councilor Elections present a great opportunity to influence the next government to prioritize education in Malawi. This is in line with section 12 (1) of the Constitution which states that:

all legal and political authority of the State derives from the people of Malawi and shall be exercised in accordance with this Constitution solely to serve and protect their interests;

all persons responsible for the exercise of powers of State do so on trust and shall only exercise such power to the extent of their lawful authority and in accordance with their responsibilities to the people of Malawi;

the authority to exercise power of State is conditional upon the sustained trust of the people of Malawi and that trust can only be maintained through open, accountable and transparent Government and informed democratic choice;

 

From the above, we believe that it is time that Malawians must set their own destiny. We also believe that political parties vying for leadership positions must buy into the people’s aspirations as their employers.

Therefore, CSEC calls that stakeholders and the political parties forming the next government should take head of the issues raised in the Education Agenda.

Education, Malawi, Top News

CSEC demands swift Malawi free primary education revision as user fees torment pupils

Lloyd M’bwana

 

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s education rights body, Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) is calling the country’s leadership to swiftly revise the Free Primary Education (FPE) arguing the policy has failed to meet its objective.

 

CSEC observes that introduction of users fees; examination fees, security fees, uniforms fees continue to torment pupils, guardians and parents as they continue to pay more to meet the costs.

 

The education rights body further disclosed that the FPE has been a failure as conceptualization and implementation has disastrous results on learners entire education sector.

 

Sharing its two policy briefs to the media and Malawi Parliamentary Committee on Education on Friday, the papers titled, “Hidden costs of free primary education in Malawi ; Do they matter in the education sector’, and “SDGs; Content, practice/policy dilemma’s and the role of Parliamentarians in SDG implementation”, CSEC  finds out that FPE is never free that even achieving SDG 4 will be daunting task.

 

CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe told the meeting in the capital Lilongwe that the whole FPE policy needs to be revised to suit the needs of Malawi’s education.

 

Kondowe says if SGD 4 is to be achieved the nation’s entire education policies; financing, budgeting need overhaul revision.

He therefore appeals Parliamentary education committee to advance its agenda in the August house that the FPE policy be revised as soon as possible.

“You cant talk of Free Primary Education when all in all there are user fees in the form of examination fees, security fees, development fees. This arrangement is tormenting pupils and parents as they fail to meet the costs.

 

“We cant talk of free primary education when heavy hidden costs are incurred. This is the reason we engage policy holders; MPs to appreciate our research papers for their action that the policy be revised as soon as possible,” says Kondowe.

 

Vice chair for Parliamentary Education Committee Vincent Ghambi assured the nation that his office will carry the task a head in the forthcoming sitting of the August House.

 

Ghambi therefore shared the same concerns of how the program has hurt many unprivileged Malawians who fail to raise the users fees.

 

 

 

 

Education, Malawi, Top News

“Enough of mere rhetoric on IPITE 10 & ODL teachers recruitment”, Malawi Govt told

Lloyd M’bwana

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s education right body Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) on Tuesday took to task Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoST) to swiftly recruit about 10,000 trained teachers who have been idol for two years upon completion of their studies.

The education right body told the news conference in the capital Lilongwe that the ministry should desist from mere rhetoric and lip services on the trained teachers recruitment.

CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe observed that continued forsaking the trained teachers is tantamount to economic human rights violation as the latter have families to feed on.

Kondowe wondered as to why the ministry could hold the teachers two years without taking them into work force when all in all teacher-pupil ration in public schools remains a challenge.

But MoST’s Principal Secretary Justin Adack Saidi issued a statement assuring the teachers of being recruited as fiscal plan just passed last June, this year where there recruitment packages are allocated.

Saidi disclosed that the Ministry in conjunction with Local Assemblies has finalised the allocation of teachers as per each district’s establishment.

“This recruitment takes into consideration all teachers under IPTE 10, IPTE 11 and ODL 5. It must also be noted that the sum of the three cohorts is less than our allocation of 10,000 primary school teachers. This, therefore entails that Nobody from the above mentioned cohorts shall be left behind.

“This recruitment further takes into consideration Government’s commitment to reduce the high Pupil to Qualified Teacher Ratio (PQTR) between teachers and learners in the country with a goal of improving the quality of education, and also improving the welfare of our teachers,” reads part of MoST statement.

But Kondowe doubted the ministry’s statement implementation considering that Local Government Civil Service Commissioners mandated for the recruitment has not been made for the exercise.

“Enough of mere rhetoric and lip services on teachers recruitment who have been idle for two years. In fact, these promises were made that last year, January these teachers were assured of employment.

“Government always want to be seen doing something while nothing is happening on the ground. We want government issue notice that recruitment process has started not statement of clarity. The coalition therefore will continue monitoring government see to it that these teachers are fully recruited,” assures Kondowe.

Herbert Phambala, one of the trained teachers warned that if government will not commit itself to the recruitment, national wide demonstrations will be an optional.

Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) president Willie Malimba expressed sadness over the recruitment delays saying it was affecting quality education implementation as teacher-pupil ratio remains a challenge.

The trained teachers have been waiting for two years unemployed and not given the certificates for them to use for searching other better opportunities

Education, Top News

CSEC calls for swift MDG III review to align with SDG4

Lloyd M’bwana

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s education watchdog Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) is calling for government to swiftly review Malawi Development Goals Strategy III (MDGS) that its deliverables be tarrying with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly on education sector.

According to CSEC the two policy documents are not speaking to each other which might affect its implementation negatively.

For instance, SDG 4 that demands for free basic and secondary education while MDGS III emphasizes on free basic education.

On education financing, MDGS III projected MK133 billion while for instance 2018/2018 national budget pegged at MK166 billion which according to CSEC is unrealistic policy approach.

CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe told The Maravi Post that the two documents must carry one voice towards its implementation.

Kondowe was speaking after the coalition engaged stakeholders in the capital Lilongwe in the education sector on how MDGS III can relay with SDG 4.

He observed that MDGS III was developed way back whose adaption and implementation does not much with SDG 4 hence the need for review.

“The coalition recognizes the contribution that each sector play in the implementation of the SDG 4.We want implementation of it must tarry with MDGS III.  The two documents aren’t speaking with one voice on its deliverables.

“Therefore our bold action and a sense of collective responsibility and duty to our people, children is central to delivering SDG4 in Malawi hence the need to review our MGDS III for better alignment with the latter,” says Kondowe.

Under the theme titled; “The call for collective effort for attainment of SDG 4; ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life learning opportunities for all”, the national forum attracted participants from the media, academic, government officials and among others.

Education, Malawi, Top News

Malawi at 54; Dedza’s glass-thatched Khoche Junior Primary School grapples with 20yrs of insolent

Lloyd M’bwana

DEDZA-(MaraviPost)-The glass-thatched Khoche Junior Primary school at Traditional Authority (T.A) Chauma, Linthipe in Dedza district is grappling with 20 years of desertion since its establishment.

Established in 1998 by communities which later in 2016 Ministry of Education adopted into a junior primary school (Standard one to four), the facilities do not have structures; blocks, toilets, teachers houses.

This is despite the Education Ministry’s certifying the school with registration number; EMIS 509064.

With four teachers walking from home of about 10 kilometres, the school has about 397 pupils learning in glass-thatched structure posing threat to them (learners).

Visiting the facility with the Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC)on Saturday, school passionate pupils, parents wished to have a conducive learning structures than the latter.

The media tour aimed at assessing school structures focusing on a girl child project financed by Swedish development partners.

“We sit on bare floor, no chairs, no proper toilets at this school. We wish we could have proper structures which will help realize my dreams of becoming the nurse,” hopes Henry Mwayiwatha, Standard two pupil.

Zione Lowadi, one of the parents chipped in; “We initiated with school after noticed that our children were walking about 10 kilometres to reach another school. But there’s much support from authorities to have proper structures at this school. This is very worrisome as children’s future is being dashed,” worried Lowadi.

Since its inception, one teacher manned the school till 2016 when education ministry posted three additional teachers who keep teaching materials at their respective homes.

“We have been operating without structures as both classes and headteachers office is the glass-thatched shelter. We come as far as 10 km. We carry our teaching materials from homes. Despite challenges, we are still here to shape the future of this community’s children,” says Julius Symon, Khoche School headteacher, the sole pioneer.

Symon confessed of difficult and unpalatable working condition that even education ministry has never distributed any learning and teaching materials to the school.

“We use School grants which is less than MK500,000.00 to buy teaching and learning materials as the authority has never distributed any of them to this school.

“Therefore, with the new structure through Malawi Education Improved Plan (MESIP) funds, the school is wearing the new face where we are expected to have two school blocks, toilets among others. But no teachers houses,” worried Julius.

CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe observed that it was a mockery of highest degree for having certified school without structures in place.

Kondowe questioned Education Ministry’s legality of certifying a school without learning, teaching materials while funds are available for the service.

“Last week, the nation was celebrating 54 years of independence, but there is less progress on the ground. We wonder what were we celebrating about. This is happening when we have resources at our disposal.

“We seem not learning from various incidences how school walls and trees have killed pupils due to lack of proper structures. We therefore demand proper provision of resources to this school,” demands Kondowe.

Education Ministry’s Spokesperson Lindiwe Chide was not readily available as to why Khoche school was certified without structures for its operation.

Education, Malawi, Top News

Exclusive on Zomba’s Natchengwa school tragedy; negligence, poor workmanship at play….as CSEC demands resources tracking

Lloyd M’bwana

ZOMBA-(MaraviPost)-Poor workmanship and authorities negligence are some of contributing factors in the last week’s Natchengwa Primary School tragedy that claimed four pupils lives after the wall collapsed on them.

Apart from four learners death more than 30 others sustained injuries of various degrees at Sub-Traditional Authority (Sub-T/A)Ngwelero in Mayaka—53 kilometres east of Zomba City—was avoidable.

This is preliminary findings on the tragedy where the school structure was built with mud by the communities.

The community mobilized resources to add the school block aimed at accommodating over 930 pupils as nearby school is far away of 10 kilometers.

The Maravi Post visit on Sunday at the site with Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) and Parliamentary Education Committee revealed that the fallen structure was built out of desperation.

The school has six block that two of them are temporal built by communities that brought sorrow to the deceased families and nation at large.

The two blocks which one killed the pupils were not certified by authorities despite being used for year since 2017.

“The bricks that were used were not suitable with the type of soil here and the foundation for the shelter was not fit enough to support the building.

“I noted from the beginning that we were to have an accident one day and all that was done due to cheap labour. The death of the four learners at the school could have been avoided if construction of the shelter was standardized,” observes Peter Milazi one of the community members surrounding Natchengwa Primary school.

The block, which used to be Standard 3B, was constructed by the school committee to supplement the shortage of classes at the school, which has 930 pupils.

Standard 3B and Standard 3A housed 116 pupils each.

Natchengwa’s structures were fully financially supported by Save the Children without Malawi government input only servicing teachers despite School Initiative Grants (SIG) that are yearly provided to primary school across the country.

The structure’s poor workmanship happened at the school despite ushering in of local ward councilors and Member of Parliament (MP) who are mandated to overseer community developments.

Parliamentary Committee Chair on Education, Dr Elias Chakwera wondered as to what use is SIG being advocated for.

“SIG is meant to support this type of work of having quality structures. It seems there is much more into this tragedy which can always avoided,” says Dr. Chakwera.

He therefore asked government to give supervisors adequate resources such as motorcycles, and even vehicles so that they are able to do supervision work.

CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe collaborated with Chakwera blaming government for paying a blind eye to the standards of education.

“Moving forward under circumstances, that communities are mobilizing to provide these structures, you expect government to foster standards.

“If government had played its rightful role, I don’t think it could have approved this structure for students to use it for learning,” said Kondowe.

He therefore urged government to be tracking resources allocated to the education sector as one way of averting challenges in the sector.

“For the past years resources through budget allocation to the ministry of education have a provision of adding new classroom blocks, one wonders if the money is used for the intended purpose.

“The ministry of education must intensify its resources tracking coupled with vigorous supervision and certification of structures schools built to avoid the same scenarios in future,” urges Kondowe.

Minister of Education, Science and Technology Bright Msaka, who visited some of the pupils admitted to hospital, said his ministry would institute investigations to understand the situation further.

Natchengwa primary school opened in 2008 with only standard one and two but now the school has classes from standard one to seven with 12 teachers.