Tag Archives: International Labour Organisation (ILO)

Education

ILO, TUM aids MK67.6 million towards scholastic materials project for Ntchisi schools

Maravi Post Author


By KONDWANI KANDIADO

DOWA-(MaraviPost)-The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in collaboration with the Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) has launched an MK67.6 million distribution of teaching and learning materials in Ntchisi to help fight child labor.

The project is being implemented though Action for Elimination of Child Labour in Supply Chains in Africa.

Speaking during the handover ceremony held at Chinthembwe Primary school in Ntchisi on Tuesday, ILO country Director for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique Wellington Chibebe said they had decided to make the donation to help enhance the quality of education while contributing to child labour elimination.

He said: The donation of scholastic materials resonates very well with our role as we want to ensure that there is social justice through provision of education and securing the future of children.”

Chibebe observed that elimination of child labour within supply chains necessitates coordinated and cooraborative action by all stakeholders at all levels.

“The ILO remains committed to continue corraborating with government workers’ organisations, employers’ organisations and other partners to ensure realisation of decence work for all Malawi,” he said.

He appealed to the beneficiaries to put the materials to proper use saying this would help in producing good results.

Director of basic Education in the Ministry of Education Grace Milda said the donation had come at the right time when most schools were experiencing inadequate teaching and learning materials.

“The gesture will help us ensure that we have textbooks and exercise books in schools where we did not have enough of them,” she said.

She then appealed to other stakeholders to emulate the gesture set by ILO to improve the quality of education.

Director of Administration in the Ministry of Labour Paul Kalilombe said the materials will help empower children who have been withdrawn from tobacco estates and other forms of child labour through education.

“The fight against child labour is very complicated and expensive and government alone might not be able to do everything therefore we greatly value the support that ILO has given towards Education,” he said.

He then appealed to the ministry of education to use the support in the targeted schools to help eliminate child labour and improve quality of education.

ILO is implementing the project with support from the government of Netherlands in partnership with Teachers Union of Malawi ( TUM).

The project is donating textbooks and writing materials worth K67.6 million in Chitipa, Mulanje, Thyolo, Mzimba, and Ntchisi.

Education

Malawi Govt, ILO commend Standard Bank towards child labour eradication

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Ministry of Education and International Labour Organisation (ILO) have commended Standard Bank Plc for enhancing education and contributing towards child labour eradication in Mulanje district.

The stakeholders were
speaking at Gambula Primary School when Standard Bank made a donation of MK10.2 million worth of educational materials to the Limbuli Education Zone.

Standard Bank has made the donation using proceeds raised from this year’s Be More Race.

Dyson Mmina, Standard Bank Branch Manager for Limbe, said the donation is a response to the recent appeal made to the private sector by the Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) after research by ILO exposed the shortage of educational materials in the zone.

“As Standard Bank, we were alerted by Teachers Union of Malawi that schools in Limbuli Primary School Zone including Gambula were heavily affected by Tropical Cyclone Freddy as their teaching and learning materials were washed away,” he said.

Mmina said every year proceeds from the Standard Bank Be More Race are allocated to supporting the Education sector, hence the designation of Gambula for 2023.

He said that the bank understands the role of education in safeguarding children from being exploited and participating in child labour practices prevalent in the district.

“Over the years, the race has developed a track record as a socially responsible corporate entity. The investment at this school fulfills our pledge to invest back into communities and continue to be a reliable partner for development especially in the education sector. Today we have donated 3,750 textbooks to the education district including core subjects such as Mathematics and English,” added Mmina.

Grace Milner, Director of Basic Education in the Ministry of Education who was the guest of honor said the books will alleviate numerous challenges the zone has been facing as a result of a shortage of educational materials.

“The Ministry has a shortage of books, we greatly appreciate Standard Bank for moving a step further through Be More Race to help us. The materials will help the learners as well as the ministry to have up-to-date books that are a scarce commodity in poor schools,” said Milner.

She added that the multi-beneficial donation will improve the delivery of teachers as learners will be exposed to great references.

“It’s a great challenge when schools have no textbooks, teachers fail to deliver accordingly and enhance learners’ understanding. Textbooks help learners to have references in classrooms, therefore, learners get things easier when educational materials are available,” she added.

Acknowledging the impact of Tropical Cyclone Freddy on education, the education director said that basic education was severely hit as classrooms, textbooks, school feeding equipment, and educational materials were damaged.

Expressing her gratitude to Standard Bank, Patience Matandiko, Technical Officer at International Labour Organization (ILO) Malawi said that the donation is a catalyst for the development of the nation as well as improving the productivity of learners.

“The donation has a great impact in reducing child labour because one of the causes of child labour is the lack of adequate resources in schools. Therefore, the learners will be motivated to go to school and escape child labor that comes during their idle times,” said Matandiko.

She added that the organization is yet to make an assessment of child labour elimination in the district.

“For the past four years, ILO has been supporting the government of Malawi in interventions aimed at eradicating child labour. We are working with other organizations to come up with evaluation strategies on the ACCEL project and other initiatives,” said Matandiko.

This year the Bank has reiterated its commitment to serving the community by publishing its Report to Society alongside its Annual Financial Report.

The Report to Society is a documentation of the Bank’s Social Economic and Environmental (SEE) initiatives that enable the organization to operate a sustainable and profitable business entity.

Business, Top News

National Product of Malawi Magazine’s 62nd edition to ensavages labour, insurances; Launch July 13

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The National Product of Malawi Magazine (NPMM) that promotes government and private sectors will on July 13 this year expected to launch its 62nd edition slated for the capital Lilongwe.

The edition follows the expiring of the 61st publication that mainly promoted health sector across the country.

But the the new edition focuses on labour, insurance and manufacturing sectors in a bid to close existing gap by taking the insurance to the general public.

Addressing the news conference on Thursday, night in the capital Lilongwe, Arthur Chinyamula, The magazine’s media consultant disclosed that the edition will promote enhancing skills development coupled with general understanding of insurance to the people.

Chinyamula said the publication has engaged ministry of labour, International Labour Organisation (ILO), TEVETA and among other agencies to put their materials in the edition for the public to embrace skill labour.

On insurance, he added that the Magazine has also partnered with various financial institutions including NICO, Old Mutual, Britam, Prime, UGI, Reunion and among other to come close to the public with their products.

To spice up the 62nd edition’ launch, Chinyamula disclosed that awards have been set aside to the most outstanding insurance company, sports, manufacturing sector, fashion and among others where the public will be expected to vote for them.

“People have already started voting for the most outstanding insurance companies. In sports, people are voting for one best player from Silver Strikers, Big Bullets, Be Forward Wanderers and Blue Eagles.

“The public are voting through our social media platforms that 50 companies have been reached for this edition,” says Chinyamula.

Launched three years, the magazine 10,000 copies for Malawi on every edition coupled for sale and freely such that other additional copies to international readers.