Bwaila Secondary School learner Chanju Phiri wins national letter writing award
A Form One student at Bwaila Secondary School, Chanju Phiri, has grabbed a gold medal prize after emerging a winner in the 50th International Letter Writing Competition.
On the other hand, the silver medal has gone to Christasalom Chinthu Phiri while a bronze medal to Chrispin Makata from Pladour Private Primary School and Star Private Primary School both from Blantyre.
The competition is an annual event organized by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a UN agency that looks on postal matters in collaboration with Malawi Commutations Regulatory Authority (MACRA) under this year’s theme: “Write a letter to a family member about your experience of Covid-19”.
The winners have all gone away with laptop computers, laptop bags, umbrellas and t-shirts while their schools have been given textbooks worth K350,000, K300,000 and K250, 000 each.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Chikondano Mussa, said during the award presentation ceremony in Lilongwe that writing is a very important skill that each student must acquire and develop.
“Mastering good writing skills at an early age is associated with better outcomes on overall performance of children in schools. It is therefore very important that learners should be encouraged to develop the skill early in life,” she said.
MACRA board member Mallah Kawale bemoaned the reduced number of students who entered into the competition this year.
“The participation in this year’s competition has shown that the number of those taking part has drastically dropped due to the impact of Civid-19,” she said.
Only 62 learners participated in this year’s competition compared to 200 who entered last year, she said.
