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Thyolo District Council Turns to CDF for School Fees

Thyolo District Council says it is banking hope on 10 percent of the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to bail out needy students who are at the verge of dropping out due to school fees.

This follows reports that over 25 needy girls from Senior Chief Mphuka who were readmitted in boarding and community day secondary schools (CDSS) after dropping out are likely to drop out again over the same fees issue.

Speaking to Zodiak on Monday, Mphuka Youth Network Chairperson Jollex Dzimbiri, fears many of the girls may get into early marriages, if nothing is done urgently to help them.

"We have 25 girls that we together with male champions, civil protection workers and youth clubs readmitted to school. What they want is school shoes, stationery and fees. If nothing is done, they would drop out.

"It would be painful because we tried to bring them back to school, so something has to be done. But if that happens, it means we would have problems here," he said.

Meanwhile, Thyolo District Council Chairperson Cresco Likwezembe, has admitted that the fees burden is huge in the district which requires several stakeholders.

Likwezembe said the council will rely on part of increased K100 million of CDF and also court tea and macadamia estates in the district to be contributing to the district education bursary.

"Currently, we are just thanking God that CDF has been improved and we hope that most of the students would be accommodated into that as well because we understand that there is a 10 percent increment on bursary.

"And also, as a Council, we have planned that we should meet the sorrounding tea estates. So, we hope that if we take them on board, they can also assist us,"Likwezembe said.

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