By Jimmy Chazama and Sam Banda Jnr:
Eight schools have made it to the national finals of the Association of Teaching of English in Malawi (Atem) having triumphed during divisional contests.
Twelve secondary schools, two from each division will battle it out in the national finals slated for next term with the winner expected to walk away with K2.5 million.
In the South West Education Division (Swed) held at Chichiri Secondary School in Blantyre on Saturday and Sunday, Blantyre Baptist Academy with their play Point of Order and Stella Maris claimed first and second positions to book their places.
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Marymount Girls and Nkhata Bay Boys secondary schools were the first to book their places after their victories during the Northern Region Education Division (Ned) contest.
In the Shire Highlands Education Division, the schools that have made it are Our Lady of Namulenga and Mulanje secondary schools.
Kamuzu Barracks with their production Annabella and St Maria Goretti prevailed in the Central West Education Division (Cwed) coming first and second respectively during the contest held at Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Lilongwe on Sunday.
For coming out top, Kamuzu Barracks which also collected a number of individual awards received K500,000 whereas St. Maria Goretti which came second with their play Rivers of Tears, received K300,000.
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Victoria Mkunga from the school was named Best English Speaker.
Kabwabwa Community Day Secondary finished third and received K200,000.
The top three schools in all the divisions have also received the same amounts.
Atem President Davie Mpaso said Monday that it has been a good battle for the schools in the divisional finals.
“Of course a number of schools need exposure. But all in all the contests have been better,” Mpaso said.
As we went to press yesterday, South East Education Division (Seed) was holding its contest at Machinga Secondary School whereas Central East Education Division (Ceed) will hold its contest this coming weekend.
Standard Bank Plc is the main sponsor of Atem through its Joy of the Arts initiative.
The bank has increased sponsorship from K20 million last year to K35 million this year.
Lilongwe Girls Secondary School are last year’s champions and they received K2 million.