First Lady cheers

First Lady cheers visually impaired students at Malingude School for the Blind First Lady Madame Dr. Gertrude Mutharika has implored upon girls with visual impairment to work hard in school despite the challenges they face, saying the future is bright for those who persevere. The First Lady was speaking at Malingunde School for the Blind where she handed over gifts from offerings received during national prayers for Malawi which were held on January 9 this year. Money amounting to K840, 000 was collected during the prayers and the Nkhoma Synod of CCAP Church contributed a further K160, 000 to make it MK1 million. Dr. Mutharika also donated assorted food items and sanitary materials for both the boys and girls with visual impairment at the school which is run by the Nkhoma Synod of the CCAP. Speaking when she handed over the items, Madame Mutharika urged the visually impaired students not to mind their disability when they are among their peers. “There is a future for every person, including you who have a visual impairment. You may have challenges today, but with perseverance you can accomplish any goal you set for yourself,” said the First Lady. According to the First Lady, many people with such a disability may not view education as a means to empower themselves. “You have chosen the right path by pursuing education, instead of going onto the streets to beg. This is the beginning of good things. You can become anything you want in life, as long as you work hard in school,” she advised. Speaking earlier, Moderator for the Synod Reverend Chatha Msangaambe, appealed to the First Lady to use her position of influence to look for funding for the construction of a security fence around the school’s hostels for boys and girls with visual impairment. “Currently we also have children with albinism in the hostels which do not have a security fence. This poses a great risk for these children, including the girl child.” ‘May I request, Your Excellency, to ask the authorities to help us by constructing a fence around the hostels, besides providing toilets and water to the school to promote sanitation,” said Rev. Msangaambe. Director for Special Needs Education in the Ministry of Education David Njaidi said there is need for an increased allocation to special needs education in the country. “We are currently failing to train more special needs teachers because there are few training centres. We are appealing to government to speed up the construction of a special needs institute which is to be built in Lilongwe,” he said. ‘ The Nkhoma Synod moderator said the CCAP church places great importance to education since it came into the country around 1880s. The school, which was established in 1971, has both seeing and visually impaired students, including some with albinism. Share This: