Bizzare 7,200 text-books burnt to ashes by rioting students at Kamwanya CDSS in Kasungu

Barely two weeks after students at Mphomwa Community Day Secondary School in Kasungu smashed window panes and damaged many other teaching and learning materials, Kamwanya students have burnt their library to ashes which stocked 7,200 text-books.

The students have also disfigured newly built twin-lab, thus, an ICT laboratory inclusive.

This development happens when two other secondary schools in Ntcheu District, Khola and Nachitheme remain closed after students vandalized the schools leaving them unfit for teaching and learning for teaching and learning to take place.

Public Relations Officer (PRO), in the Ministry of Education, Mphatso Nkuonera has confirmed on the incident.

“We are saddened to confirm on the disgusting vandalism incident at Kamwanya CDSS in Mchinji District, which took place around 10 pm, on Sunday, 17th March, 2024,” said Nkuonera.

The rioting students have set ablaze the school library, broke window panes for all old classroom blocks, and 3 window panes on the newly constructed Equity with Quality Learning at Secondary (EQUALS) Project structures.

At Kamwanya CDSS, the Ministry is constructing one classroom block, a twin science laboratory, an ICT/Library block which are at 77% completion,” Nkuonera explained.

He added that the school has put in place strict discipline measures to curb student intimate relationships, hence the reaction from male students.

The PRO said the ministry will not exercise any linience but to met out stiffer punishment accordingly.

“Nine students have already been incarcerated for this vandalism by Mchinji police. We will apply the laws that govern the ministry, if it is expulsion they will be expelled, if it is suspension rustication we will do this is our schools.

“We appeal to parents and guardians, the faith community, local and traditional leaders, civil society organizations and all other stakeholders to rally behind the ministry in dealing with indiscipline issues in schools, as they are complex in nature,” he said.

Last term students also vandalized Ntcheu, St Don Bosco and Robert Blake secondary schools which have not been repaired yet.

Recently the Ministry of Education has registered increased cases of vandalism in school with bias at secondary *.#Education Is Key.*