Maranatha Academy Managing Director Ernest Kaonga has awarded a full scholarship to a 16-year-old Standard 8 pupil from Mangale Primary School in Mangochi, along with a pocket allowance of K500,000 per term, in a move aimed at promoting girls’ education.
The learner, Duwana Muhammad, recently gained attention after emerging as the top-performing girl at Mangale Primary School, where she has consistently excelled in examinations.
Mangale Primary School Head Teacher, Boniface Gomiwa, said Duwana stands out in a community where cases of girls dropping out due to early marriage and teenage pregnancy remain a concern.
Gomiwa noted that the school continues to face serious infrastructural challenges, including a shortage of classrooms and long commuting distances for teachers, who travel up to 10 kilometres to reach the school.
Established in 1975, Mangale Primary School had only four classrooms by 2024 and no staff housing, a situation that continues to affect the learning environment.
Education commentator Island Mtambo described the situation as worrying, noting gaps in access to education continue to disadvantage learners in some rural communities, and called for urgent action to address factors driving girls out of school.
In response, Maranatha Girls Academy has awarded Duwana a full scholarship to pursue her secondary education, alongside financial support of K500,000 per term.
Kaonga said the support reflects the institution’s commitment to nurturing the girl child through education.
“We believe every talented girl deserves a fair chance to reach her full potential, regardless of her background,” said Kaonga.
He further added: “This scholarship is not just support, but an investment in Malawi’s future leadership, starting with girls from rural communities like Mangale.”
The initiative has been welcomed as a positive step towards strengthening girl child education and reducing dropout rates in rural Malawi.
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