Minister of Education, Science and Technology Bright Msaka says the provision of bicycles to learners complements the government’s free secondary education policy by helping remove transport barriers that keep some learners out of school.
Msaka said this today at St Anthony Community Day Secondary School in Zomba during the launch of the Mobility Role in Reducing Child Marriage initiative, under which 13,500 Buffalo bicycles have been provided to learners.
The bicycles, donated by a consortium including Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) and World Bicycle Relief, are intended to ease transport challenges for learners who travel long distances to school.
Msaka said improving and strengthening education requires collective efforts from government, communities and other stakeholders.
He said the bicycle initiative comes at a time when government has made secondary education free, adding that such interventions complement efforts to ensure learners can access education without barriers that could force them out of school.
CAMFED Board Chairperson McKnight Kalanda and World Bicycle Relief Managing Director Anthony Kinnard said the support is aimed at reducing school absenteeism linked to transport challenges.
Form 3 learner Joyce Dines said the bicycle will ease her two-hour journey to school.
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