Organisers of a national quiz competition, Healthwise Organisation in collaboration with World Vision Malawi (WVM), believe their efforts have helped to improve literacy and numeracy skills among Malawian children.
Speaking during the Mchinji district finals, Healthwise Organisation programmes Coordinator, Innocent Uladi, said the initiative’s achievements and future aspirations are to see learners who are well-skilled in reading and counting.
“Across the country, we have reached out to about 100,000 learners in 15 districts, and we hope to reach out to about 300,000. The situation in Malawi in terms of literacy and numeracy skills in children is not desirable. This competition has helped the children improve in those areas,” Uladi said.
WVM Mchinji District Programme Manager Mereena John emphasised the organisation’s commitment to children’s education.
In Mchinji, 21 schools from WVM programme areas participated in the competition dubbed “Maphunziro Mbambande”.
During the district finals, Waliranji Primary School from the Bua Mtete Programme Area triumphed over Kalulu Primary School from the Rusa Programme Area, scoring 99 points to 91.
The victorious team was awarded a trophy, school bags, drinking bottles and exercise books.
Rachel Allan, a Standard Five student at Waliranji Primary School, could not hide her excitement.
“The competition has helped me improve in many ways. I always work hard to be the best. It is always good to work extra hard, and I think the same applies to our opponents, even though they lost, fought hard,” she said.
By Vincent Khonje, MANA
