Karonga district director of education, youths and sport Mercy Mayuni has urged teachers from 16 primary schools whose roofs were blown off or classroom blocks collapsed to introduce shifts for learners. The affected schools include Malo, Ntchowo and Mwenitete in traditional authority (T/A) Kilupula, Katili in T/A Kyungu as well as Ngisi, Ngana and Mayoka in T/A Mwakaboko. Despite the destruction, children reported for classes on Monday at the beginning of the second term of the 2025/26 academic year.
Mayuni said in an interview yesterday that teachers were told to introduce overlapping or double shifts while waiting for permanent solutions. She said: “We appealed to well-wishers for tents but we did not secure any up to January 5 2026 when schools opened. “Head teachers have been told to either introduce double shifts or use portable boards in nearby buildings such as churches.” Mayuni said her office has written Karonga District Council to cast the appeal net wider to its partners for tents.
Mwenitete Zone primary education adviser (PEA) Bentry Mwangofi said he also advised head teachers to turn to shifts. Iponga Zone PEA Joyce Mwakhwawa Kapepa said both Ngisi and Ngana primary schools had a classroom affected while three teachers’ houses and four kitchens were damaged at Mayoka Primary School. Katili Primary School head teacher Albert Msowoya said the heavy rains also destroyed academic results files.
[paywall]
Karonga District Council chairperson Atusaye Mwenifumbo said the council was yet to carry out a comprehensive assessment to ascertain the actual figure of affected schools. “I have called for a meeting on Wednesday [today] with all council directors and ward councillors to discuss the same issue,” he said. The district has been receiving heavy rains since December 26 2025.
[/paywall]
