Ministry to close school in Machinga for operating in a mosque
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has warned that it will close Mdikira Junior Primary School in Machinga for operating in a mosque.
A mosque such as this one is being used a school in Machinga
Machinga district education manager Sarah Khozi sounded the warning following the community’s failure to identify a neutral place for a school.
“If the community fails to identify a better place, my office will have no option but to close the school as this is not what we agreed with them,” said Khozi.
Mdikira Junior Primary School is situated in group village head Nkula about 10 kilometres (km) from Chimkwezule Primary School and another 10km from a primary school at Chingale Turn-off.
Nkula area development committee secretary Hanna Michi said this was done as a temporary measure to provide education to early grade learners as the community was preparing to construct structures at a new place.
The school’s head teacher George Mpendama said the school was operating with four teachers against over 200 children.
He said the proposed site for the school is about 500 metres from the present borrowed premises.
“A borrowed premise will remain a borrowed premise,” Mpendama said while expressing hope that the community will speed up the process of constructing the new structures at the newly identified place.
2017 has seen the birth of Mdikira, Misolo, Makumba and Mkwakwawila junior primary schools in Machinga.
What does the District Education manager mean when she says “neutral place”? Another building other than the mosque? or premises far away from the mosque? It is not proper to have lessons in a mosque that we agree. The same should apply to having lessons in a church. I should however say that I have personally attended classes in a church but the school was never closed nor threatened to close, I have written MANEB examinations in a church and all went well. If it is a policy for lessons not to occur in religious buildings then let that policy… Read more »
It is the strict rules of mosques that are of concern
Ayi muvule nsapato musambe miyendo ndi zina zambiri. Chiropo chachitika kuti anene choncho. Pafula nthunzi pali moto.
A Gaffamentiwo osangomanga sululuyo bwanji. Iyaaa! Ena awona kut gafament yalephera ndi inu a ijukeshon mukut titseka sukulu?
Lets approach this issue with sober minds and desist from bring in Religious political undertones. Does the education policy state that you can educate pupils in a religious building; regardless whether it is a church or a mosque? If it is only for writing examinations that is a temporary arrangement and I do not think that the District Education Manager would have any problem with that for I have seen it being done by most schools especially where they do not have a spacious hall they borrow religious premises. I hope the argument should best be guided as to what… Read more »