By Andrew Mkonda:
Every morning, 14-year-old Grace Bonifesi now walks a much shorter distance to school, something that once seemed impossible for many children in her community.
For years, learners from Nkhata Village and surrounding areas under Group Village Head Chibungo in Traditional Authority Kalolo faced long and exhausting journeys to access secondary education. Some woke up before dawn to walk for hours to the nearest school, while others eventually dropped out altogether because the burden became too heavy.
Today, however, things are beginning to change.
Grace is among the first group of learners enrolled at the newly opened Chibungo Community Day Secondary School (CDSS), a development that has brought renewed hope to communities that had spent years pleading for a nearby secondary school.
Im very happy to be among the first learners at this school, says Grace, her face lighting up with excitement. We will always remember that we were the pioneers here.
The school officially opened its doors in September 2024 at the beginning of the 2024/25 academic year after years of phased construction supported through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) programme.
For many parents and learners, the opening of the school has eased a long-standing struggle.
Before Chibungo CDSS was established, learners depended on Katsuma Community Day Secondary School, which was located far from many villages in the area. The long distance discouraged school attendance and contributed to high dropout rates, especially among vulnerable learners.
Some learners abandoned their education because they could no longer cope with the daily walks, while others failed to continue due to financial difficulties associated with transport and school requirements.
Among those given a second chance is 20-year-old Denis Phiri.
Phiri dropped out of school nearly two years ago while attending Kachiswe Primary School. He says the distance to Katsuma CDSS and lack of money made it difficult for him to continue with his education.
The coming of this school has changed many things for us, says Phiri. Many learners who dropped out are now returning to school because it is closer to our homes. Even parents are now encouraged to support their children.
Around the school campus, the excitement is visible.
Learners gather in groups discussing lessons, while older students who once lost hope of continuing with school now sit side by side with younger classmates.
Head teacher Victor Kamanga says the return of former dropouts is one of the most encouraging developments since the school opened.
As teachers, we feel motivated when we see learners coming back to school after dropping out, says Kamanga. It gives us hope that this school will transform the future of this community.
He says the school administration has also worked to ensure harmony among learners despite differences in age.
We teach them to respect one another and learn together because education belongs to everyone regardless of age, he explains.
The road to establishing Chibungo CDSS began several years ago.
In 2017, Lilongwe District Council initiated the first phase of construction using Constituency Development Fund (CDF) resources, which funded the construction of a two-classroom block.
The second phase followed in 2019 through the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) programme, leading to the construction of another classroom block and ventilated improved pit toilets.
By 2024, the school had expanded further with completion of an administration block and a solar-powered water system, while construction of a teachers house was underway.
Community members say the programme would not have succeeded without local support.
Sub-Traditional Authority Chibungo says residents willingly provided 13 hectares of land for the school and remain committed to supporting its growth.
This school is very important to us because it represents a better future for our children, says the traditional leader. We are ready to continue working with government to develop this place.
The school is one of several initiatives implemented through the Governance to Enable Service Delivery programme, which supports councils through Performance-Based Grants administered by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC).
Lilongwe District Council Director of Public Works, Sydney Chiphaka, says the council has completed 72 initiatives worth K7.6 billion under the programme since 2021.
The initiatives cover sectors such as education, health, transport, trade and security.
We have seen increased learner enrolment where classroom blocks have been constructed, improved access to health services and better economic activity through market infrastructure, says Chiphaka.
He adds that bridge works implemented under the programme have also improved access to markets for farmers while creating employment opportunities for local communities.
For Grace and many other learners, however, the biggest impact is much simpler and deeply personal.
Instead of spending hours walking to school every day, they can now focus on their studies closer to home, carrying with them fresh hope for a brighter future.
