Africa-Press – Malawi. Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 and Cholera has closed down Maranatha High School academy premises at Balaka and Zalewa for contravening the pandemic guidelines.
In a press statement made available to The Maravi Post, the taskforce observes that new premises where Maranatha High School had re-located because the proprietor conducted himself and managed the establishment of new school premises contrary to Sections 32 and 38 of the Education Act (2013).
Education Ministry also revealed that the conditions of the premises where learners were ferried to were pathetic: a poorly ventilated warehouse, a makeshift kitchen, dirty water storage facilities, a filthy bathing area and two dirty pit latrines and two water closet toilets for about 400 learners“The Ministry of Education is concerned about the conduct of a few schools in the districts of Blantyre and Lilongwe that did not comply with the order by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 and Cholera not to open schools in the period stated to prevent the spread of the Cholera epidemic.
“One such school is Maranatha High School Academy. The school went to the extent of relocating their premises from Blantyre to Zalewa and Balaka. The Ministry does not condone such conduct as it is against the laws and guidelines governing the establishment and operation of schools in this country,” reads part of the statement.
Adds statement, “This was also against the public health order that the Ministry of Education and stakeholders in the education sector must abide by. “The Ministry of Education has since closed the new premises where Maranatha High School had re-located because the proprietor conducted himself and managed the establishment of new school premises contrary to Sections 32 and 38 of the Education Act (2013)”.
Appeals the ministry, “The Ministry would like to encourage the general public to report any similar practice they may observe by educational institutions in their localities.
“Ministry would like to appeal to all stakeholders in the education sector to move together in combating the Cholera epidemic. Here are some pictures from the closed premises of the Maranatha Girls High School Academy in Balaka: Congested, poorly ventilated warehouse for dormitory.”
On Thursday, the taskforce announced reopening of Lilongwe and Blantyre schools on January 17, 2023 after closed two ago over escalation of Cholera outbreak.
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