RESIDENTS of Chikoti Village in Chief Chipalo’s Chiefdom in Luwingu District have appealed to the government to consider constructing two more classroom blocks at Chikoti Day Secondary School.

One of the residents, Derrick Mulenga, says the 1×4 classroom block, which was constructed using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) at the school, is not enough to cater for pupils from Grade eight to 12.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Luwingu, Mr Mulenga said many children want to get back to school following the introduction of free education policy but that the space at the school is not encouraging.

Mr Mulenga further noted that due to the free education policy, classes at both Chikoti Primary and Day Secondary School have been filled up beyond capacity and that constructing more classes will enable more children to get back to school.

“Since the introduction of the free education policy, we have seen a lot of interest from both parents and children to get back to school, because parents are now able to send their children to school without paying anything.

“However, classroom space is unfavourable because our school here is filled and many of our children who want to go back to school are discouraged, we need more classes,” he observed.

Mr Mulenga said there is a need to increase classroom spaces by constructing two more classroom blocks for grade eight and nine pupils who have become more in classes than the required number.

“The number of pupils in classes is beyond the required number, over 50 pupils in one class, we need another block of classes especially for grade eight and nine,” he said.

Mr Mulenga has applauded the government for deploying more teachers at the school.

“The number of teachers deployed at Chikoti Primary and Day Secondary Schools has really motivated parents, it has also been the reason parents are keen to take back their children to school,” he said.

And another resident, Chileshe Mukonde, of Konge Village in Chief Chipalo’s Chiefdom, called on the government to consider constructing a modern clinic in the area.

Mr Mukonde said constructing a modern clinic in the area will reduce the distance sick people normally cover to get to the nearest health post.

He said people, especially expectant mothers, find it difficult to get to the nearest health facility which is over 30 Kilometers away.

“To get to the nearest health post from here, which is Chiponde Mini Hospital, you have to cover a distance of 30 to 40 kilometres, many sick people have died on their way which is very bad,” he lamented.

Mr Mukonde explained that he was aware that the community can apply through the Constituency Development Fund to put up a health facility but alleged that the community is not getting the much needed attention despite applying through the Masonde Ward Development Committee for projects.