Peace returns after demos against Kaliati
There is peace once again at PAK Foundation School in Mulanje district after students angrily held demonstrations against the owner who also happens to be Malawi’s Minister of Information and Civic Education Patricia Kaliati.
The students marched from their school at Chonde Trading Centre in the district to the minister’s residence at Nkando Trading Centre, about 20kms, demanding back their school fees claiming the school had totally failed them in every aspect.
Clad in red attire the fearless students chanted and called names the school personnel including Kaliati, who is well known for intimidation.
Among others, the students claimed the school has failed to provide them essential learning materials such as laboratory tools and text books and that it has under qualified teachers for a secondary school.
But students are back in class after the matter was partially resolved, according to on student.
“Yes I can confirm that we have resumed classes on the understanding that the director will this time urgently look into all our concerns. But as it is nothing has been done apart from the mutual agreement.
“We have been complaining about these things through the school personnel and even to the owner herself but nothing has been done,” a Form 2 student from Blantyre, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, told Nyasa Times.
Kaliati’s reaction
While confirming about shortage of text books at her school, Kaliati blamed “some few undisciplined students” for wanting to disturbed others “who came for education and not fun.”
She also blamed the students for not being procedural by rushing to presenting their grievances to her instead of the school’s headmaster.
Students at the Patricia Anne Kaliati (PAK) School were deceived by juicy adverts that have been running on various radio stations about its overall standards which among others include quality of education, lodging and food.
But students claim the picture painted of the school is far much below expectations as lessons are poor because most teachers are under qualified, food is bad (sometimes they don’t eat), there is no power after a generator was reportedly confiscated by some people
Kaliati said there was nothing to worry as everything is in its place and accused the students of lying on teachers’ qualifications.
“Do your investigations properly, go there and fish out anybody who does not have the papers, we have graduates from Chancellor College (constituent college of University of Malawi) there,” fumed the wordy minister.
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