BLANTYRE--Malawi government’s resolution to revert Chilobwe Primary School to a vocational training centre has irked some parents.

Government had ordered the pupils there to enroll at Chimwankhunda Primary School but parents say the school is overcrowded which will affect the quality of education they will receive there.
 
Guards manning the facility told The Maravi Post on Sunday that the head teacher has already transferred all pupils to their newly assigned school save for those in standards one, two and three.
 
“Pupils were transferred to Chimwakhunda School primary on Monday but some parents haven’t come to terms with the decision,” said one guard who asked for anonymity.
 
One parent The Maravi Post spoke to observed that the move will disturb the pupils as some take ages to cope up with new environment and teachers.  
 
“I have identified another school for my child. I can’t allow my child to be [walking such ] a long distance,” said James Ndalama Phiri, who stays close to the centre. The Chimwankhunda school is several kilometers from Chilombwe primary.  
 
But Blantyre District Education Manager Ruth Kambale defended the decision claiming that the school was purely constructed to offer vocational courses.
 
Kambale said unavailability of funds in 2006 thwarted government’s initial plan of rolling out various vocational courses at the center and opted to turn the idle structures into a primary school.
 
“Government has just resorted to its earlier arrangement of opening a vocational training center there.
 
“Parents shouldn’t worry because there is enough space at Chimwankhunda and government has just constructed extra school blocks there. There is no cause for worry,” Kambale said.
 
The centre was constructed with funding from Germany in 2006 and courses expected to be offered include tailoring, carpentry, plumbing, welding and fabrication.
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