Mother Group instrumental to containing dropout rates

Kasangu Primary School situated in Chikomakuka Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Chakhaza in Dowa has recorded reduced cases of drop-out rates among girls.

The formation of Mother Group has helped to improve the situation which was very pathetic before it was established.

The Mother Group was formed in 2014 and has seen a number of drop outs among girls being reduced drastically.

Chairperson for Kasangu Mother Group, Anna Binga says parents thought of forming the Mother Group at the school in order to improve education.

“Before the group was formed, girls would drop out of school for various reasons. We had to find a solution in order to address the issue,” she says.

Binga adds that the Mother Group has been instrumental in the provision of sanitary pads for the girls at the institution.

She says the initiative has helped the girl child to remain in school and cases of absenteeism have gone down.

“The School has managed to provide change rooms where girls help themselves whenever they are experiencing monthly periods. They are free and comfortable to attend classes without issues,” Binga adds.

She says members of the Mother Group have acted as counselors to off age girls on how they should look after themselves within their communities.

“We have been able to withdraw three girls from marriage and one of them is now in form three at Ntchisi Secondary school,” says Binga.

She adds that, “We are cooperating with parents to make them understand the importance of school and the negative impacts of marrying off a girl child at a tender age. It has been working and we do not have such cases now.”

The Chairperson says the girls are encouraged to participate in youth club activities where they are empowered with vital information regarding their lives.

Member of the Mother Group, Sellina Chipezeni says the group encourages girls to always value their dressing codes when in school or out of school.

She says at the pick of COVID-19, members of the group were sewing masks and pads which were distributed for free at the school.

“We continue to provide water for washing hands with soap to pupils before they enter their classes as one way of enhancing hygiene practices among the pupils,” Chipezeni narrates.

World Vision’s Development Facilitator for Kasangadzi Area Programme (AP), Carol Lumbalu says there are 15 Mother Groups in Kasangadzi AP.

She says 12 of them are at primary school, two at Secondary School and one at community level. 

Lambalu says Mother Groups are trained in savings for transformation and organic farming.

“This acts as a source of income for buying flannel and cloths for reusable sanitary pads and masks productions. This is done to empower them economically and enable them to sustain their initiatives in the schools they are working,” she adds.