Early marriages, child labour, and limited access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services are driving up school dropout rates in the area of Group Village Headman Sathawa, Traditional Authority Njema, in Mulanje District.
Ngangala Primary School Head teacher Samson Jonala highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that out of 2,061 learners enrolled at the beginning of the school calendar, only 1,904 sat for the end-of-term examinations.
Jonala attributed this high dropout rate to a lack of parental care.
He explained that some parents permit their children to work on farms instead of attending school, while poverty continues to force others into early marriages.
These concerns were raised during an interface meeting focused on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR) and the impact of climate change on young people, held at Ngangala Primary School in the area.
Elena Naphoyo, from Sathwa youth club, expressed concern over the negative reactions of some parents when their children attend youth club meetings aimed at sharing sexual and reproductive health information.
Senior Assistant Youth Officer Eunice Mtifukanji urged chiefs and school management committees to follow all dropout cases and encourage them to return to school.
Participants at the meeting agreed to end harmful cultural practices such as chinamwali and involve Traditional leaders in SRHR awareness campaigns, and encourage parents to support their children in accessing sexual and reproductive health services.
By Etta Chikuse, MANA
