Melania Trump visits Malawi school during African tour

LILONGWE, Malawi — First Lady Melania Trump got a different view of educating children as she visited an African primary school Thursday that has benefited from U.S. assistance but struggles with an enrollment of more than 8,500 students. Some children attend lessons outdoors, where they sit shoulder to shoulder on loose, red dirt.

Trump toured several outdoor classrooms at Chipala Primary School in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, the second stop on her four-nation tour of the continent.

The school is among those in the landlocked southern African country that receive education assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development, including textbooks.

Trump was on hand as the U.S. ambassador handed over an additional 1.4 million books through a U.S.-funded national reading program. Malawi’s schools have received some 9.6 million books under the program in the last several years.

“I wanted to be here to see the successful programs that [the] United States is providing the children and thank you for everything you’ve done,” the first lady said at a book donation ceremony in the school’s library.

She reflected on the visit later at a meet-and-greet with embassy staff at the ambassador’s residence.

“What an amazing experience. Meeting those children and understanding their different way of life is why I wanted to travel here,” Trump said. “I was heartened to spend time with the students and was honored to donate school supplies and soccer balls.

“My husband and I appreciate all that you’re doing to serve our country,” she added.

Back in Washington, President Trump tweeted: “Our country’s great First Lady, Melania, is doing really well in Africa. The people love her, and she loves them! It is a beautiful thing to see.”

The school has a studentteacher ratio of 111 to 1, and just 22 classrooms.

The first lady highlighted USAID’s work in Africa at a time the Trump administration is trying to cut the agency’s funding.

In its first two budget proposals, the administration sought to slash funding for the State Department and USAID by roughly 30%. Widespread bipartisan opposition to the steep reductions in Congress, where the budget proposals were essentially ignored, foiled the administration’s plans.

The remaining stops on the first lady’s tour are Kenya and Egypt.