Minister of Education Bright Msaka has directed teachers across the country to monitor children in communities surrounding their schools and ensure that they attend classes.
Msaka says the directive is part of efforts to address the high dropout rate in primary schools, which he says is reflected in the sharp decline in learner numbers as children progress to higher classes.
He says some schools have more than 200 learners in Standard 1, but the number falls to as few as 40 by Standard 8.
According to Msaka, the trend is a concern as it means many children are failing to complete their primary education.
He has therefore instructed teachers to go beyond the classroom and keep track of school-age children within communities around their schools.
Msaka says teachers should identify children who have stopped attending classes and work with parents and communities to ensure that they return to school.
He has also called for greater involvement of parents and communities in keeping children in school, saying tackling dropout requires collective responsibility.
The Minister says the government wants to ensure that more children remain in school and complete their primary education.
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