You have probably heard one or two things about what goes on in single-sex boarding schools. But how accurate is that information? DW's GirlzOffMute got firsthand information from some Malawian teens in an all-girls boarding school. They told our reporter the common myths and misconceptions they've heard about being in such a school.#GirlZOffMute #DWAfrica
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00:00We've all heard misconceptions and myths about boarding schools, girls boarding schools.
00:15So tell me some of them and tell me if they're true or not.
00:19Some say that at girl boarding secondary schools there is a high percentage of homosexual relationships
00:26which is not true at our school here at Luth secondary school.
00:30What about you Stacey?
00:31Other people also say that there is a high rate of witchcraft in girls secondary schools,
00:37boarding mainly.
00:38But at our school here, since we came first time for one on the first day, we have never
00:43experienced such types of horrific things.
00:47Everything is just okay here.
00:49We're spiritually empowered by the people who administer our school.
00:53You guys take like five, three, four months here at school before going back home.
00:58So how do you deal with homesicknesses?
01:00I know some of you cry, you guys obviously miss home.
01:03So how do you deal with it?
01:05As for me, I don't get that homesick because I also miss my friends here at school.
01:09You know, the chatting, the experience in class, the funny moments that we have here.
01:14So I don't get that homesick.
01:15Cece, how do you deal with it?
01:17Mostly it's by chatting with my friends and maybe reading some stories from books so that
01:24somehow I should be able to forget about home.
01:27Because you know, psychologically it's normal for you to miss home when you just arrive on the same day.
01:32So yeah, chatting with my friends on the first day is the best solution when it comes to me.
01:37Yeah, good. I used to cry.
01:39Are there any changes or improvements that you'd like to be enhanced on your education overall?
01:45Like anything you'd like to be different for girls' education here in Malawi?
01:50All I want the government to do for us is to build more girls' secondary schools
01:55throughout our country, Malawi, in order to improve the girls' education
01:59and to build more national libraries in each and every district
02:03so that we youth can have access to different types of knowledge
02:08and broaden our knowledge as well and in a way improving in our education.
02:13That is a very smart idea.
02:15So do you guys have any last words? Cecilia?
02:19I would like to encourage all girls out there who are always afraid of going to a girls' secondary school
02:26because they're afraid of the myths that have been mentioned already
02:29that they're mostly not true because people just make them up.
02:33But then they should be strong and courageous to go there
02:36because their concentration levels will increase, hence boosting their education.
02:43Stacey?
02:45I'd like to encourage every girl out there that they should dream big and aim high
02:51because everything is possible if you believe and work hard.
02:54Ludzi Girls, where we are, is a Catholic secondary school
02:57and Catholic secondary schools are known for instilling discipline in learners.
03:01I will now talk to the matron of this institution, Mrs. Gunia, to learn more from her.
03:35I would like to encourage all girls out there who are afraid of going to a girls' secondary school
03:40because they're afraid of the myths that have been mentioned already
03:45that they're mostly not true because people just make them up.
03:49But then they should be strong and courageous to go there because everything is possible if you believe and work hard.
03:53I would like to encourage all girls out there who are afraid of going to a girls' secondary school
03:58because they're afraid of the myths that have been mentioned already
04:02I would like to encourage all girls out there who are afraid of going to a girls' secondary school
04:07to go there because everything is possible if you believe and work hard.
04:10But then they should be strong and courageous to go there because everything is possible if you believe and work hard.
04:15That's how I would like to remind all girls out there, encourage them to go there and join the battalion.
04:20Thanks for listening.