Malawi Schools Trust supports Secondary Schools in the rural centre of Malawi.
One of our Schools, Madanjala, is especially remote. 50% of Pupils commute 10kms (each way) and 25% from 15kms.
So, aside from the normal challenges the schools have (e.g. poor funding, lack of resources and teachers) the biggest challenge can be just getting pupils to class on time.
With the long commutes, it’s no surprise that pupils are often too exhausted for class. In the case of girls, the additional and more alarming challenge is the physical risks on their journeys to and from school.
A common solution for this in Malawi is for pupils to find temporary accommodation near the school. “Safe Boarding” is the weekly rental of outbuildings in villages close to the school. These buildings are typically run down and are often repurposed from farm sheds. With no lighting, furniture and beds the rooms are basically empty. Many are unsanitary and unsafe. Pupils sleep on the floor and cook their own food.
Early each Monday morning the pupils walk the 10—15kms to school and use this room during the week, returning home on Friday. Their parents give the children money for rent and to buy food for the week. After that the children are expected to fend for themselves, keep their uniforms clean and attend school. And of course, as none of the children have mobile phones, contact with their parents during the week is very limited.
Safe boarding typically costs £2-3 per week, about the same as school fees ( £15 per term) and is an additional burden for families. Typically the pupils will room with a friend so they can provide support to each other. The best safe boarding places are those where the landlady takes an interest in their tenants and provides parental care of the girls but many don’t offer this.