Dear Reader,
Schools have closed. Students in examination classes are anxiously waiting for the results. Our experience informs us that those who performed well often have a sense of their success even before the official announcement, as true understanding precedes the test itself. Meanwhile, students who were in non-examination classes have progressed to the next level. However, it is possible that some students may be advancing with unsatisfactory results. This makes it crucial for parents to discuss with their children on what went wrong and how they plan to improve.
While it is easy to blame students, we also need to acknowledge that there could also be other factors that affect our children’s learning. For instance, the changes in climate might as well affect the performance of students. We should also consider looking at the school environment itself and its impact on teaching and learning processes. We need to interrogate if the over-provision of certain things inadvertently hinders the concentration of students? Parents might wonder how “over-provision” could negatively affect a child’s performance. Imagine a child with an excessive amount of food in their suitcase or who receives such things every Saturday. Instead of focusing in class, the child will be busy thinking of break time to teach the food or might be preoccupied with thoughts of snack time or the upcoming weekend visit. If a child is used to being visited every week and you miss a week for some reason, the child’s concentration can be disrupted.
Therefore, as we reflect on the children’s performance, let us seriously reflect on the matters of our own actions that might be contributing factors. We also have to spend time on monitoring what our children are doing in order to make an inference for schoolwork. Is it important to monitor the time our children spend on television or their phones? Do we need to know if our children are active on social media? Who do they interact with? Do you know their friends? What times of the day do they chat, and is there a specific pattern? What stories do they say about their friends? Are you able to pick some indicators from the conversations? It’s disheartening that parents of today seem to have forgotten their own childhood and school experiences. Children need to be reminded that the path they trail today is not new; their parents have already walked it.
They need to understand that not everything the children say is new and should be adopted. We have been children ourselves and we know what our children are going through. We have been adolescents ourselves and we know what we were doing that was not right and how we managed. Additionally, please take time to share childhood stories. Let your children know the things that shaped you and discuss how they affected you, either positively or negatively. For children, holidays are the best times to learn new things that are not academic. It’s time to apply practical knowledge in various fields like agriculture. If your parents are farmers, go and farm with them, rearing cattle or growing vegetables. If your parents are in the business of selling Kaunjika (second-hand clothes), go and sell with them.
The school holiday is not a time to loiter aimlessly in town. Learn from the best teachers you have: your parents. Get into the productive work your parents are doing. Don’t spend too much on television, sports activities; the right to play also requires good nutrition and economic empowerment.
The Malawi Government and UNICEF, with support from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), have launched a project on ending child marriages targeting Mzimba, Phalombe, Lilongwe Rural, Mulanje, Thyolo, Chikwawa, Nsanje, Mangochi, Machinga, and Dedza districts. We are aware of the various cultural issues that are prevalent in these districts, particularly “Chinamwali” (a rite of passage that initiates young people into adulthood). While culture itself is not inherently bad, it is important that we do away with the harmful aspects. If children participate in cultural festivals, parents and community gatekeepers should ensure that the children are released before school resumes.
More importantly, let us give the children information in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, ensuring it is accurate and age appropriate. In the event that children’s rights are being violated, do not hesitate to call us on 116 or 5600, or email gbv@yoneco.org.
Have a wonderful August 2026
