Teachers, community clash over playing ground at Chipala school in Lilongwe

Four learners have been injured and were rushed to hospital after they were caught up in violent clashes between teachers and community over a playing ground at Chipala primary school in Area 50, Lilongwe.

The teachers have been boycotting teaching since last week because of the hostile conditions due to lack of classes.

A donor was identified and wants to construct more classrooms but the community backed by some block leaders are refusing to let the playing ground go for the construction of the school blocks, saying this was the only place the community play football.

This has infuriated the teachers and on Monday the teachers and the community clashed.

Police who came to restore calm and order were chased away by the community who blamed them for doing nothing to unify the two warring parties.

The running battles between the teachers and the community spilled over to the M1 road at Kanengo where a road was blocked.