They are among Malawi’s brightest children. But behind the academic excellence at Mzuzu Government Secondary School lies a troubling reality: some students are sleeping in hostels with broken windows, doors, lockers and poor ablution facilities.
A concerned citizen has called on government, well-wishers and the private sector to urgently intervene, saying students who are excelling academically deserve safe, decent and dignified accommodation.
In an open letter, the concerned citizen says the condition of the hostels is particularly disturbing because Mzuzu Government is one of only four secondary schools fully run by the Central Government and admits high-performing students from across the country.
The school’s academic record underscores the calibre of students it produces. One of the students who scored nine points, among the highest marks in this year’s Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations, came from Mzuzu Government.
“These are not ordinary children. They are some of Malawi’s naturally gifted and exceptionally talented young people,” the concerned citizen says.
Yet the writer says some of these students return from classrooms where they are expected to excel to hostels with broken infrastructure.
Some windows are reportedly broken or missing glass, leaving rooms exposed to cold air at night. The writer notes that Mzuzu is one of Malawi’s coldest cities and that the school is near Kaning’ina Forest.
“Do not tell children to dream while giving them a nightmare to sleep in,” the concerned citizen says.
The open letter also highlights broken hostel doors, damaged old lockers and poor bathroom and ablution facilities, raising questions about the safety and welfare of students.
The concerned citizen has challenged Minister of Education Bright Msaka to visit the school and inspect the boys’ and girls’ hostels personally.
The writer asks the minister to look at the broken windows, doors, lockers and bathrooms and consider one simple question: Would you allow your own child to sleep there?
The concern, the writer stresses, is national. Mzuzu Government is not a school for Northern Region children alone. Its students come from different parts of Malawi and the institution therefore serves the country as a whole.
Government, the concerned citizen says, must take the lead in fixing the hostels. But well-wishers, companies, alumni, parents and philanthropists can also play a role.
The writer has specifically appealed to Raiply Malawi Limited to consider providing timber products for doors and lockers, while urging glass companies such as PG Glass, Capital Glass and GLASSICO to help replace broken windows.
“You do not have to fix everything. Fix something,” the writer says.
The Press Trust and Prophet Shepherd Bushiri are also being urged to visit the school and assess how they can assist, while alumni are being challenged to return to an institution that helped shape their futures.
Parents, meanwhile, are encouraged to organise through the PTA and support efforts to address urgent needs.
The concerned citizen also says school management must protect public property and that students who deliberately vandalise school infrastructure should face appropriate disciplinary action.
At the heart of the appeal is a simple argument: Malawi cannot demand excellence from its children while failing to provide them with decent conditions in which to live and study.
A concerned citizen has called on government, well-wishers and the private sector to urgently intervene, saying students who are excelling academically deserve safe, decent and dignified accommodation.
In an open letter, the concerned citizen says the condition of the hostels is particularly disturbing because Mzuzu Government is one of only four secondary schools fully run by the Central Government and admits high-performing students from across the country.
The school’s academic record underscores the calibre of students it produces. One of the students who scored nine points, among the highest marks in this year’s Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations, came from Mzuzu Government.
“These are not ordinary children. They are some of Malawi’s naturally gifted and exceptionally talented young people,” the concerned citizen says.
Yet the writer says some of these students return from classrooms where they are expected to excel to hostels with broken infrastructure.
Some windows are reportedly broken or missing glass, leaving rooms exposed to cold air at night. The writer notes that Mzuzu is one of Malawi’s coldest cities and that the school is near Kaning’ina Forest.
“Do not tell children to dream while giving them a nightmare to sleep in,” the concerned citizen says.
The open letter also highlights broken hostel doors, damaged old lockers and poor bathroom and ablution facilities, raising questions about the safety and welfare of students.
The concerned citizen has challenged Minister of Education Bright Msaka to visit the school and inspect the boys’ and girls’ hostels personally.
The writer asks the minister to look at the broken windows, doors, lockers and bathrooms and consider one simple question: Would you allow your own child to sleep there?
The concern, the writer stresses, is national. Mzuzu Government is not a school for Northern Region children alone. Its students come from different parts of Malawi and the institution therefore serves the country as a whole.
Government, the concerned citizen says, must take the lead in fixing the hostels. But well-wishers, companies, alumni, parents and philanthropists can also play a role.
The writer has specifically appealed to Raiply Malawi Limited to consider providing timber products for doors and lockers, while urging glass companies such as PG Glass, Capital Glass and GLASSICO to help replace broken windows.
“You do not have to fix everything. Fix something,” the writer says.
The Press Trust and Prophet Shepherd Bushiri are also being urged to visit the school and assess how they can assist, while alumni are being challenged to return to an institution that helped shape their futures.
Parents, meanwhile, are encouraged to organise through the PTA and support efforts to address urgent needs.
The concerned citizen also says school management must protect public property and that students who deliberately vandalise school infrastructure should face appropriate disciplinary action.
At the heart of the appeal is a simple argument: Malawi cannot demand excellence from its children while failing to provide them with decent conditions in which to live and study.
