By George Banda
For years on end, young, bright boys such as 12-year-old Asher Machinjiri could only watch in wonder as their peers of the opposite sex enjoyed unlimited educational support, merited or otherwise.
The energetic Standard 8 learner at Save Our Souls (SOS) Private Primary School in Blantyre’s Machinjiri Township, watched from the sidelines as girls in his community received scholarships, mentorship sessions and motivational talks aimed at keeping them in school.
“We also want to work hard and be recognised,” Asher would usually utter, trying so hard to suppress a feeling of bitterness.
A prominent education commentator, Victor Chikoti, also weighed in on the subject, pointing out that he has long called for balanced investment in children’s education.
“It’s high time the boy child gets the attention he deserves,” Chikoti said. “Supporting boys does not diminish the gains made for girls. Instead, it creates a more equitable education system that benefits the entire nation.”
Now, slowly, things appear to be changing: Asher was recently among the few boys recognised for their outstanding performance during the Standard 8 first-term examination in the Blantyre Urban Education District. At least, for their troubles, the boys were rewarded with materials to support their learning journey.
It is a fact that for many years, a lot of organisations in the country poured resources into empowering girls, tackling pressing issues such as child marriages, school dropouts and deep-rooted gender barriers. The focus yielded commendable results, boosting girls’ retention and performance in many districts. However, this targeted approach often left the boys feeling overlooked, with their own unique challenges, ranging from economic pressure to lack of role models and receiving less structured support.
That imbalance is now shifting because some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are broadening their educational initiatives to embrace inclusive strategies that uplift all children.
Now that things appear to be changing, Asher is excited to be part of it.
“It’s good that some organisations have now started including us boys in their programmes,” Asher said, his eyes lit with excitement. “It really feels good.”
One of the notable players that are now helping change the status quo is Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWEMA); an organisation long celebrated for championing girls’ education through mentorship, scholarships and community engagement.
It has introduced new initiatives that reward academic excellence across genders, giving out various gifts to top-performing Standard 8 learners in selected primary schools nationwide, ensuring that hardworking boys like Asher Machinjiri are also celebrated for their efforts.
Lydia Mvona, chairperson of FAWEMA’s Blantyre chapter, emphasized the importance of this evolution.
“Education is for every child,” she noted. “While our work with girls has produced strong outcomes, true progress means no learner is left behind. Inclusive programmes help build balanced communities where both boys and girls thrive.”
In an interview with MBC Digital, Ministry of Education spokesperson, Lily Kampani, said the ministry has always welcomed initiatives that support both girls’ and boys’ education.
“The ministry is aware that while much focus has been on girls, boys also face challenges and to address this, the government is working with partners to provide bursaries and other incentives to vulnerable learners, both male and female,” said Kampani.
The shift reflects a growing understanding within the community to balance the act when it comes to education for both boys and girls and for countless boys such as Asher Machinjiri, this change brings renewed hope where every child has the chance to dream big and achieve their full potential.
