The communities expressed their gratitude to the Bishop when he visited St. Monica Community Day Secondary School which was recently opened but construction works is still going on to have it fully completed.
“We would like to thank you, your Lordship for the support you are rendering to us. Apart from spiritual support that you normally render us, we are also grateful for your support in the education sector,” said one community member, Ben Kalawo.
Ever since Bishop Mtumbuka became leader of Karonga diocese, he has initiated the construction of St. Mary’s Karonga Girls Boarding Secondary School and St. Monica Community Day Secondary School which are all operational.
Plans are also in the pipeline to construct another school in the diocese which shall be called St. Ignatius Secondary School.
“Before His Lordship brought us this school, we used to travel long distance to access secondary education. We were also exposed to various challenges including school drop-outs, early marriages and early pregnancies,” said Matrida Kalawa who is the head girl for St. Monica Community Day Secondary School.
She thanked Bishop Mtumbuka hence asked him to consider promoting boarding schools to girls as a way of protecting them from various challenges they encounter as day schooling students.
For his part, Bishop Mtumbuka challenged girls in the diocese to leave a more dignified life and work hard in class.
He encouraged parents, guardians and teachers to care for children especially a girl child student for they are the future of the country’s socio-economic growth.
“We are concerned with girls’ education and we plan to open up more schools in this diocese. In Catholic Church, it is not just about education so that you become wise……. but is also about spirituality amongst our children, “said Bishop Mtumbuka while challenging teachers to apply both spiritual and social teaching in the society.
St. Mary’s and St. Monica Secondary Schools were constructed with financial support from Mathiles Family of United States of America and Johannes Beese Foundation of German respectively.