Malawi Children's Parliament

For the third year running, the New State House in Lilongwe has been playing host to a different kind of Parliament. Unlike the official version of Parliament which is unpopular for discussing trivia, the Children’s Parliament is known to tackle pertinent issues affecting the present and the future of this country.

The third children’s parliament, which finished its business this year on Wednesday, 20 August 2003, had deplored bad governance and corruption in the country, which the children said adversely affect the development and welfare of the children.

The 67-member parliament supported by United Nations Children F und (UNICEF), Action Aid, Save the Children Fund UK and Plan International also noted the lowering standards of education because of the introduction of free primary education.

On quality education, an issue raised by Alinafe Kasiya from Kasiya sub-Boma and supported by Steven Minora from Mulanje Central, the children attributed the low standards of education to the employment of unqualified teachers, the unstable school calendar, poor school facilities and mushrooming of private schools.

More Updates on Malawi Children's Parliament available here

Read details in The Nation On-line, the Malawi's number one on-line news portal.