Remaining positive about education amid COVID-19
COVID-19 in Malawi
After five months away from school Tiyamike Bonongwe is feeling frustrated. The standard 8 student at Chioko primary school in Lilongwe, Malawi, says she hoped schools would have reopened by now so she could have sat her examinations.
"We understand we still have the pandemic but I expected the authorities to allow us to sit for our exams,” says Tiyamkike. “Now months have passed without clear measures that will allow opening of schools and I am worried.”
However, some of the concern felt by Tiyamike and her peers is being addressed by a UNICEF-supported initiative that is sending teachers door-to-door to see their students.
Funded by UKAID, the initiative is being implemented by the Story Workshop Educational Trust, a non-governmental organisation that uses mass media, theatre and face-to-face interaction to share development messages to help bring about positive social change.
Story Workshop is working with teachers in Lilongwe, Dedza and Zomba districts, helping learners understand the risks of COVID-19 and supporting their ongoing educational needs.
One of the teachers going to door-to-door is Felia Chandamale, a teacher at Chioko Primary School. She says conducting dialogue with students has helped revive hopes and enthusiasm about education.
“Since our engagement with Story Workshop on reaching out to learners, I have contacted students in my catchment area, helping them follow COVID-19 preventative measures and supported them to remain positive about education,” says Chandamale.
But Chandamale said more teachers were needed to become involved in the initiative as a way of reaching more students.
“Learners are happy meeting their teachers but we need more teachers to be involved so that more learners are reached with messages on COVID-19, and revive their hopes about education.”
Tiyamike says she had so many things to enquire about on the day her teacher visited at her home.
“Most of the messages we get on mass media are general and not specific, so the visit by my teacher allowed me to ask questions on issues relating to my environment and those I face,” said Tiyamike.
