This project will procure 100 classroom desks to provide a supportive learning environment for 300 learners annually in standard 5, 6 and 7 at Nangondo Primary School in Machinga, Malawi. Currently, only standard 8 learners sit on desks while standard 1-7 learners sit on the floor contributing to high absenteeism rate. The school is located in a remote area with total enrollment of 940 pupils. Despite being government owned, the Ministry of Education has no financial resources to support this.
Shortage of desks is one of the major barriers to education that has caused most learners to drop out of school before completing primary their education at the school. Class attendance records show that 40% of the learners absent themselves during the rainy season because the floor easily becomes muddy and dirty. Adolescent girls are the major victims as they are not comfortable to sit on the floor in class during menstruation period. This contributes to poor academic performance.
This project will supply 100 classroom desks to the school to create a supportive learning environment for learners. Desks will help learners sit comfortably in class and reduce the incidence of communicable diseases that contributed to high absenteeism rates. This initiative will then decrease absenteeism rate, improve respect and dignity of girls and improve their academic performance.
Once the project is completed, it is expected that, absenteeism rates among the learners will be reduced, the learners will improve their class performance and number of school dropouts will be reduced. This will contribute to poverty reduction and achievement of sustainable development goals through increasing number of educated people in Malawi.
