DAPP embarks on primary education improvement project

in a bid to reduce school drop out rate, Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) has embarked on a project which will increase enrollment and retention of learners in early primary schools.

The ‘Let the Children Stay in School Project’ aims at improving transition of children into primary school education especially into Standard 1 and 2 classes.

DAPP Malawi’s grant’s administration specialist, Steve Nyirenda observed that though the country has increased Early Childhood Development Programmes, there is poor transition of children from Community Based Child Care Centres to primary school and lack of teaching as well as learning materials.

“Teachers in these classes rarely go for refresher courses, hence the project’s component of teacher training which will see a total of 120 teachers undergoing training at DAPP Teachers’ Training Colleges during holidays and develop tailor-made training materials for them,” explained Nyirenda.

Under the three-year project which started in June school and community reading clubs as well as school gardens will be established and promoted while the learners will also be supported in sporting activities among others.

Funded by the Roger Federer Foundation to the tune of K430 million, the Project will reach out to 50, 000 learners and 600 primary school teachers in 106 primary schools.

School Health and Nutrition Coordinator for Lilongwe Urban District Education Office, which is one of the districts where the project is being implemented, Grace Katopola described the project as a welcome development which will go a long way in contributing to education standards in the country.

The project is being implemented in Nsanje and Machinga districts in the southern region, Lilongwe and Ntchisi in the centre as well as Rumphi and Chitipa districts in the north.