Former Lilongwe Private Schools head of primary section Maria Asghar has called on the authorities to investigate the institution over reports of child abuse.
Asghar claims that the school has been sitting on reports of corporal punishment, failure to enforce child protection policies, workplace retaliation, governance breakdowns and coordinated online harassment of staff.
One of the most serious allegations involves the physical assault of Asghar’s son on school premises.
According to medical reports she holds, the child required emergency surgery.
She warns in her report that sustained online harassment and bullying can escalate into real-world violence when institutional safeguards fail.
“Education, child protection and human rights experts say allegations combining child abuse, corporal punishment, cyber harassment, bullying and retaliation require urgent independent investigation,” Asghar says.
She has since called on the Ministry of Education, child protection authorities, human rights institutions and labour and immigration authorities to institute investigations.
Asghar says her decision to speak publicly is “rooted in principle”.
“This is about children, dignity and accountability… I now ask higher authorities to investigate independently and honestly so no child, teacher or school leader has to suffer in silence again,” she says.
Further, Asghar claims that complaints and testimonies she collected from parents and staff expose former employee Burnett Munthali as the person allegedly involved in repeated incidents of physical, verbal, racial and degrading abuse of students.
“Allegations include racially abusive statements towards a Malawian child, such as ‘you are black,’ ‘you are like smoke weed’ and ‘your head is full of worms.’
“Parents and witnesses further allege that students were lifted by their ears, slapped on their cheeks and forced, particularly girls, to beg. Multiple incidents of beating were reported,” she says.
Asghar adds that documentary evidence exists, including parental complaints, internal records and medical documentation.
“When school leadership initiated action, parental pressure reportedly increased and Burnett Munthali later left the institution. No independent safeguarding investigation was conducted by the board,” she says.
One of the complaints which we have seen includes a guardian who complained that the teacher accused his son of smoking weed, which he felt was damaging to the reputation, dignity and emotional well being of a young learner.
“I find this behaviour deeply troubling and unacceptable. As a parent, I expect teachers to nurture, guide and support learners, not to subject them to harassment, false accusations and discriminatory treatment,” reads the letter dated September 4, 2025.
In another letter dated May 2, 2025, a parent accused the same teacher of subjecting his daughter to physical aggression including pulling her ears.
“Lifting her by the ears and administering a forceful slap to her face. My daughter can’t sleep overnight, please take action and fire the teacher,” the letter reads.
However when contacted, Munthali refused to comment on the matter, saying he has nothing to do with the institution as he resigned last year after finding a better job.
In an interview, the school’s vice board chairperson Manzoor Bheda referred the reporter to the chairperson, saying he was best placed to comment.
“Speak to the chairperson Mr Kalaria,” he said adding that the chairperson is currently outside the country.
He refused to give the number he is using at present, saying “he will be back after a week”.
When we contacted, Jayesh Patel Kalaria, son of the chairperson, who, according to sources, is the acting chairperson, also refused to comment on the matter.
“You have to wait for Mr Kalaria. He is currently outside the country and will be back after a month,” he said.
When asked to share the phone number he uses, he refused, saying he is receiving medical treatment.
“Once he comes back, he will be briefed on the issue,” Patel Kalaria said.
