In a significant step for teacher welfare and educational quality, YODEP on Friday handed over two new blocks of flush toilets with handwashing facilities to Thundu Primary School in Zomba. The modern facilities resolve a long-standing challenge to the dignity and well-being of the school's 49 teachers.
Constructed with generous funding from Friends from the Netherlands, these are the first flush toilets of their kind at the school, directly addressing a critical gap in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, YODEP’s Programs Manager, Joy Mwandama, emphasized the vital link between infrastructure and education. “You cannot talk about quality basic education without proper toilets,” he said. “We are thrilled that teachers now have access to a dignified facility. This will positively impact classroom time and overall teaching quality.”
The Head Teacher of Thundu Primary, Shadrick Nangoma, reflected on the difficulties of the past. “The previous situation was deeply challenging. Whenever we had visitors, we had to direct them to teachers’ private homes. Having a flush toilet on school grounds is a game-changer for our professionalism and morale.”
Ignatius Kameni, Chief Education Officer for Zomba Urban, praised the partnership model. “The government cannot do this work alone,” he stated. “We deeply appreciate YODEP and its partners for their support. With many schools still struggling with hygiene and sanitation, this intervention brings much-needed relief.”
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