PARENTS RISK PUNISHMENT OVER FAILURE TO SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL

By Emma Zawanda

As schools will be opened on the 4^th January 2021, senior chief Kalolo of Lilongwe has warned he will use by-laws to take to task parents who will not send their children to school.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony of 17 teen children under a Community Based Child Care centre at Malunje Orphans Affairs Unit in the area, senior chief Kalolo said that they have set by-laws that will force parents to send their children to school. 

According to Kalolo, parents who will not send their children to school from 4^th January 2021 will pay a goat as punishment for denying their children the right  to education. 

He however observed that the coming of covid-19 pandemic, has also led to high school drop-out rates in his area.

In his remarks executive committee chairperson of Malunje Orphans Affairs Unit Timothy Dawa said that the graduation has helped raise more awareness to parents that do not send their children to Community Based Child Care centre’s to learn.

He added that lack of water, poor infrastructure and financial support to the elderly people in the community are some of the challenges they are facing.