THE construction of St. Mary Anglican Girls Secondary Boarding School in Chief Tembwe, Chama District of Eastern province, by the Anglican Church is making remarkable progress.
Father Jones Katete, the Anglican Children’s Programme project director, reported that a 1by 4 classroom block and administrative offices are already in place, marking over 90 percent completion.
The facilities are poised to be utilized through a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the church with plans to cater 1000 pupils.
This includes hostels and essential amenities such as teacher and learner toilets.
Father Katete emphasized the necessity of a girls’ boarding school stating that a girls Boarding school would help in eliminating child marriages and school dropouts in the district.
“Girls who learn from co-education schools suffer abuse in many cases by the boys,” he added.
“Boarding school creates a safe haven for girls to complete their secondary education.”
Father Katete further outlined the phased approach to the project, expressing optimism about its targeted completion within the year, contingent upon the availability of resources.
Anticipating engagement with the DEBS office, Father Katete shared plans to secure additional necessities like furniture, books, and bedding facilities, ensuring a conducive learning environment for the girls.
Chief Tembwe lauded the boarding school initiative, foreseeing its potential to keep girls in school, mitigating the challenges of long distances to the nearest secondary school..
White Luhanga
Kalemba January 22, 2024
