The country’s education authorities have disclosed plans to engage learner mentors to motivate girls in primary schools.

Spokesperson in the Ministry of Education Mphatso Nkuonera has told us that government is planning to recruit 2605 Form 4 leavers who will work as girls’ mentors aiming at inspiring girls across the country’s primary school.

He said: “We are not dealing with trained teachers in this programme because they will be recruited separately by government.

“What we are doing now is a different initiative and the two groups serve different roles.”

Nkuonera added that the Ministry, through Malaŵi  Education Reform Programme (MERP) has already advanced in procuring services of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which will carry out the recruitment process of the learner mentors.

“The role model female teachers will be identified within the communities surrounding respective primary schools.

“These mentors will not be on government payroll, but an upkeep allowance will be provided as an incentive,” said Nkuonera.

The programme will be bankrolled by the World Bank, Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the Malaŵi  Government through MERP.