Mwalawantondo, a new Catholic Primary School, has been constructed and blessed at Mtendere, in the Diocese of Dedza.
Before the construction, the surrounding area had no primary school. Children were forced to walk four kilometres each way – an eight-kilometre round trip daily – to attend classes at either Mtendere Primary School or Chimwankhuku Primary near Thete.
The initiative was facilitated by Fr. Maximian Khisi, Vice Rector of St. Kizito Minor Seminary, following a 90,000 Euro grant provided by a family from Germany. Following completion, the school grounds and buildings were blessed by Bishop Peter Adrian Chifukwa.
Named by the local community, Mwalawantondo Primary School includes eight classrooms spread across four double-classroom blocks, a teachers’ administration office, two staff houses, and separate pit latrine blocks for boys and girls.
The institution will operate as a grant-aided school open to all children regardless of religious background. Under this arrangement, the Dedza Diocese provides the infrastructure while the Government of Malawi will supply and assign teaching staff to the school.