Namwala

 

And government said the donation by Celtel was a potent symbol of the good relationship between it [Government] and the private sector.

 

Donating 50 desks to the school Celtel Public relations manger Ms Patricia Litiya said the company was committed to compliment government's efforts to attain the Millennium Development goals [MDGs] in education for all by 2015 through its Build our nation programme.

 

Ms Litiya said the company intends to target all the 72 districts in the country by 2008 in a bid to improve the education standards especially in rural areas.

 

"As a company we don not recognise our selves as an investor sitting in an air conditioned office we want to be part of the realization of the MDGs in  education so that every Zambian has a better life,' said Ms Litiya.

 

Ms Litiya was also appalled at the critical shortage of desks at the school which had more than 168 pupils against 16 desks expressed hope the desks would help to increase the attendance among pupils.

 

Government has said it would not relent to work with companies who have passion to contribute to the development of the nation.

 

Thanking Celtel Zambia[L] for the gesture Namwala district commissioner Ms Eunice Nawa said the donation ahs come at a time when government is intensifying its efforts to attain the MDGs in education for all.

 

She called on Celtel to expand its programmes to renovating some of the schools in the district which she said were in dire need of renovations.

 

"Government highly appreciates such a gesture as it [government] believes the attainment of MDGs requires collective action from all sectors of society," said Ms Nawa.

 

"But as a district some of our schools infrastructure are in a deplorable condition and we would always knock at your door for help,' she added.

 

Meanwhile school head master Mr Maxwell Muchena implored government build teachers house saying teachers shun the school because there was a critical shortage of teachers house coupled with poor school infrastructure.

 

Currently the school constructed in 1970 has only one modern classroom block and three thatched classrooms. There is only one teacher's house while the rest are grass thatched.

 

Mr Muchena also called on government to consider sending more teachers to the school which has five at the moment.

 

Mr Muchena, however bemoan the poor attendance of pupils at about 30 per cent with most boys forced to herd their parents' livestock while girls are forced into early marriages.

 

Speaking at the same function district education board secretary Mr Syazumbwe Lapaana warned parents against forcing the girl child into early marriage

 

He said the law would visit those parents who continue to condone the act despite several warnings from his office.

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Story from ZANIS Namwala