Students Flee Kabadwa Secondary School After Burning Dormitory in Protest Over Poor Welfare

By Rahim Abdul

Students at Kabadwa Secondary School in Zomba have abandoned the institution after a night of chaos in which some learners set fire to their dormitory to protest poor living conditions.

The incident, which happened near Songani Market, has intensified concerns over student welfare in boarding schools across the district.

According to witnesses, the unrest began when students became increasingly frustrated with what they described as substandard food and inconsistent water supply.

Many learners reported that the situation had worsened over the last few weeks without any clear effort from school authorities to resolve it.

One of the students who spoke to 247 Malawi News expressed disappointment at the school’s failure to respond to their complaints.

“We are receiving food that is not in good condition, and water does not flow properly in this school. We wonder how the money we pay is being used,” the student said.

As tension grew, a group of learners reportedly set fire to the dormitory to draw urgent attention to the hardships they said they had endured for too long.

Although the fire was eventually put out, the building was left damaged and unsafe for use.

Attempts to reach the school’s head teacher for comment proved futile. Several calls made to his phone went unanswered, leaving parents and community members with unanswered questions about the school’s management.

Chaos continued within the campus as dozens of students fled the premises. Some walked to nearby trading centres, while others waited anxiously for their parents to pick them up and take them home.

Parents who arrived at the school expressed shock at the conditions their children described.

Many said they were unhappy that their children had gone for long hours without proper meals or water despite paying school fees.

Residents around the school said they saw smoke and heard shouting from the campus late in the night. They expressed fear that similar incidents may occur again if school management does not prioritise student welfare.

As investigations continue, learning at Kabadwa Secondary School has been suspended. For now, students have returned home as the community awaits clarity on how the situation escalated to such an alarming level.