Situated a few kilometers away from Wovwe and Mphinga Rice Schemes in Karonga District, Chauteka Primary School had an enrolment of 616 pupils in standards one to eight during the 2023-2024 school year.
Along the way, 41 learners between the ages of nine and 14 dropped out, mostly due to early marriages.
Harry Kumwenda, headteacher for the school, says most of the dropouts are from standard 4 to 7, acknowledging the vice to poverty and lack of role models.
Since 2018, the Church and Society have been sensitising communities on the negative effects of early marriages, which according to the Project Officer for the organization, Lea Mvula, has seen 13 girls withdrawn from early marriages.
The project called Children, Youth, and Communities for Change is targeting Tchalo, Chiweta, and Chitimba in Rumphi and Uliwa and Chilumba in Karonga.
With funding from Transform Aid International, Church, and Society, a development arm of the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia is implementing the project in collaboration with the courts, police, traditional leaders, social welfare officers, and child protection workers among others.
By Chimwemwe Milulu
