NEW DESKS MOTIVATE LEARNERS AT CHAKHAZA CDSS

…AS MP TOLD TO PROCURE QUALITY DESKS

Education is a right for every child. And conducive learning environment, coupled with availability of quality learning materials, is key to promoting access to education.

Students from Chakhaza Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Dowa expressed gratitude over the procurement of better-quality desks by their Member of Parliament (MP). At first, the MP was at loggerheads with the members of community, including learners, for procuring few and substandard desks for the school.

One of the students from Chakhaza CDSS, Lydia, applauded CSAT and members of the Area Development Committee (ADC) for intervening in the matter to ensure delivery of quality and required number of the desks.

“The first desks which our school received were not nice and comfortable because they were done poorly. As a learner, I was not feeling comfortable using them because they were small and not beautiful.

But I felt relieved with the delivery of the improved desks which were beautiful and spacious. I am appreciative to CSAT and ADC members of my community for the work they are doing to ensure that there is quality service delivery in our area,” said the Form 4 girl.

However, after noting that their Member of Parliament (MP) delivered few and substandard desks to Chakhaza CDSS in Dowa district. Communities raised eyebrows, demanding transparency and accountability on the procurement of the materials.

“The school was supposed to get 100 desks but instead only 25 substandard desks were procured by the MP. As community leaders, we were shocked and not happy with this development. Thus we decided to take the matter with our MP to revisit his decision and the entire procurement process,” said a member of ADC.

He said ADC members utilized the knowledge they attained through capacity building sessions by Center for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) through the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) supported ‘Strengthening Governance Accountability Through Citizen Oversight’ to bring their MP to a round table.

“We successfully petitioned the MP who eventually delivered the required 100 quality desks to the school. This did not only excite the learners but also teachers and parents. We are thankful to CSAT for building our capacity to demand quality service delivery from duty bearers to ensure that people have access to access to meaningful and sustainable development,” he said.