Yoneco warns Malawi teachers against abusing girls
Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) has warned teachers in Nsondole educational zone against abusing adolescent girls.
The remarks were made by YONECO Executive Director Mac Bain Mkandawire when he was presiding over the distribution of school uniforms to 200 girls from 10 schools in the zone.
Mkandawire was the guest of honour to the event that was organized by Chilimba Women and Orphan support Organization with funding from US Embassy.
He also advised parents to stop encouraging their daughters to undergo harmful cultural practices that promote teenage pregnancies, child marriages and school drop outs.
He said time has come when parents can no longer cheat their daughters on the facts of sexuality and child bearing by claiming that ‘children are bought at the hospital.’
Mkandawire then encouraged them to provide accurate information on sexuality that will promote prevention of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases among adolescent girls.
Turning to head teachers, YONECO Director urged them to make sure that their teachers are not abusing girls.
He informed the gathering that his organization has received and handled so many cases of teachers abusing girls and that it promotes school drop outs among the victims.
On this point he called upon both teachers and parents to work together in creating a conducive learning environment for the girl’s education.
The girls who were benefiting from the distribution were discouraged from getting married at the expense of their education, saying girls who got married before they completed their education are facing so many challenges including gender based violence.
He reminded the girls that Malawi is currently being lead by a woman who qualified for the position of presidency because she is educated. He further said the president is coming from Domasi an area very close to Nsondole, signifying that if they work hard in their studies they can assume any position at all levels.
Mkandawire who is also the current chair person for Civil Society Coalition on Education, called upon primary education advisors and head teachers to report whenever schools are not receiving adequate learning and teaching materials.
He said his coalition on education advocates for improved educational standards through allocation of adequate teachers, learning and teaching materials.
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