World Vision Malawi Supports Mbombwe Catholic Primary School with Desks and Sanitation Facilities

For children at Mbombwe Catholic Primary School in Onga Area Programme, having a desk to sit on during lessons has changed more than the way they learn. It has helped  to create a more comfortable and supportive environment where they can concentrate and participate in class and attend school more regularly.

For years, the school did not have enough desks for its growing number of learners. Many children had to sit on the classroom floor during lessons, sometimes on cold cement or muddy ground during the rainy season.

Among them was Deborah, 11. For several years, she had been learning from the floor because there were not enough desks for every learner.

“When I arrived late at school, I sometimes found that other learners had already taken the spaces in front, so I had to sit at the back. It was difficult to hear the teacher clearly from there. When it rained, the floor became muddy and our clothes got dirty,” says Deborah.

The lack of adequate desks also affected how learners participated in lessons. Those sitting at the back could struggle to hear or see clearly, while others had to adjust their sitting positions to find a suitable place on the floor.

The school also faced challenges with sanitation facilities. With a large number of learners sharing limited toilets, queues could form during break time, sometimes making it difficult for children to return to class on time.

Horace Chibwana, the school’s headteacher, says the shortage of desks was particularly challenging for learners in the lower classes.

“Learners in the upper classes had priority for the available desks, while younger learners had to sit on the floor. We simply did not have enough desks for the number of learners at the school,” says Chibwana.

He says the situation contributed to absenteeism and affected the learning environment.

In 2022, World Vision Malawi supported Mbombwe Catholic Primary School with 158 desks and improved sanitation facilities, including an eight-compartment toilet block for girls and a changing room to support girls to manage their menstrual health with greater privacy and dignity at school.

The support has contributed to noticeable changes at the school.

“Absenteeism has dropped from between 15 and 20 percent to about five percent, and daily attendance has improved. Learners now start using desks from Standard 3. We also have improved toilet and changing facilities for girls, although we still need additional facilities for boys,” says Chibwana.

For girls like Enifa, the changing room has provided a more private space to manage their menstrual health while at school.

“I feel more comfortable knowing that I have a private place where I can manage my period while at school,” says Enifa.

The changes at Mbombwe Catholic Primary School form part of wider efforts to improve access to quality education by creating learning environments where children can learn safely and with dignity.

For Deborah, the simple act of sitting at a desk has made a meaningful difference.

“I like sitting at a desk because I can concentrate better during lessons,” says Deborah.

With improved facilities, learners at Mbombwe Catholic Primary School now have a more conducive environment for learning. The school continues to work towards ensuring that every child has the opportunity to attend classes regularly, participate fully and build the skills they need for their future.