Residents of Senior Chief Chikowi in Zomba have embarked on an initiative to construct a secondary school with the aim of easing access to education for students.

This follows growing number of dropouts, with students having to travel a long distance to access secondary school education.

Chairperson of the Area’s Development Committee, Gevasi Jisa confirmed to YFM online that girls are registering the highest dropout rate.

He added that the project is to ensure that most students stay in school.

“Chikowi is surrounded by seven primary schools, but the future of those selected lies in Nsala CDSS which is 15 kilometers away,” he elaborated.

Jisa said the committee has made progress in liaising with traditional authorities who have offered land.

He however said the project has stalled due to insufficient funds.

“At the moment we are relying on contributions from parents that is too little compared to what we need,” he complained.

Jisa said they will engage with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and relevant stakeholders to assist with funds once all the necessary procedures have been completed.

He was however hopeful that come 2019, the project would have seen the light of day.

Presently the Muslim association has offered classrooms at one of their boarding schools in chikala to assist with the delivery of the lessons at a nearer location.