Education
Source: All Africa
CHIEF Mulolo of the Chewa people in Chadiza district, Eastern Province, has warned people in his chiefdom to stop initiating schoolgirls in traditional dance troupes because the practice is contributing to the high school dropout rate.
The traditional leader said he has noted that the traditional dances are contributing to the high number of children dropping out of school.
He cited Gule wamukulu and Chinamwali, saying some parents have initiated their daughters who are spending more time on dancing than being in school.
Chief Mulolo was speaking in Chadiza on Monday during celebrations marking the International Day of the Girl-child organised by Plan International.
The theme for this year's commemoration was 'Girls Speak Out'.
"I am urging all parents in my chiefdom to ensure that they send their children to school instead of taking them out of classrooms so that they can dance Gule wamukulu and Chinamwali," he said.
Chief Mulolo said education is the only weapon against the number of street kids, which is why parents should ensure their children are in school and not in dance troupes.
Last year over 16,000 girls got pregnant and were forced into marriages countrywide, and Eastern Province recorded about 9,280, representing 58 percent.