Estimated Budget: ZMW 3,300,000
Duration: 12 Months
Magwero School for the Deaf is a Grant-Aided boarding institution located in the eastern region of Zambia, approximately 22 kilometers from the provincial capital. Established in 1955 by Dutch missionary Dr. E.S. Botes and currently managed by the Reformed Church in Zambia in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the school was founded with a clear mission: to provide quality, inclusive education to learners with hearing impairments and equip them with both academic knowledge and survival skills.
As the only special boarding school for the hearing impaired in the eastern region of Zambia, Magwero plays a critical national role in expanding access to education for children who would otherwise face significant barriers to learning. The school currently serves 173 learners (100 boys and 73 girls) from Early Childhood Education (ECE) to Grade 12. Enrollment has steadily increased over recent years due to improved academic performance at Grade 9 and Grade 12 levels, as well as growing national recognition of the institution’s quality and commitment.
Magwero operates as a fully boarding institution because many learners come from distant rural communities across Zambia where access to specialized education for the hearing impaired is limited or non-existent. Boarding facilities are therefore not optional but essential to ensuring continuity of learning, structured supervision, and holistic development.
However, the current boys’ dormitory infrastructure was originally designed to accommodate a significantly smaller number of learners. With the rise in enrollment, the available boarding space has become insufficient, resulting in congestion, limited personal space, and strain on sanitation facilities. Overcrowding in sleeping areas compromises privacy, comfort, hygiene standards, and the structured learning environment that is particularly important for learners with hearing impairments.
Given that the school’s motto is “Education with Survival Skills,” providing a safe, dignified, and supportive residential environment is central to fulfilling its mission. A modern boys’ dormitory facility is therefore not merely an infrastructure upgrade but a necessary intervention to sustain the institution’s academic performance, protect learner welfare, and maintain national standards for boarding schools.
The proposed construction of a Modern Boys Dormitory seeks to address this pressing infrastructure gap and align boarding capacity with current enrollment levels while positioning the school for continued growth.
To construct a modern dormitory with proper study.
Construction of dormitory, furnishing with beds and lockers.
• Reduced congestion in boys accommodation
• Improved hygiene and sanitation standards
• Enhanced learner comfort and safety
• Improved academic performance
• Increased institutional capacity