An Overview of Schools in the Thyolo District
The Thyolo District has a population of over half a million people. This rural area covers 1715 sq,km, according to the recent Malawi Resource & Program Mapping Report that was prepared by USAID & Project Research. There are 193 primary schools with over 151,340 students. 50% of whom are girls. The drop-out rate for girls in upper classes is up to 54%.
There are 31 secondary schools with 7088 students. Out of that, 40.8% are girls.
Unlike for primary schooling, secondary schooling is not free. Hence the intervention by FOCHTA. There is a handful of international NGOs providing school fees to students. However FOCHTA, which is mentioned in this report, is different in that as well as providing bursaries for school fees, we also attend to students’ daily needs, such as by providing uniforms and school equipment, and in the neediest cases food and blankets.