1,200 learn in open air after winds hit school

Tanzania Minister for Education, Dr Shukuru Kawambwa.

More than 1,200 pupils at Rwang’enyi Primary School are studying under difficult conditions after their classrooms were destroyed by strong winds two months ago.

Speaking at Rwang’enyi Village in Rorya District, Mara region yesterday, the CCM chairman for Nyamtinga Ward, Mr Richard Tenga, said that currently, the school has only two classrooms, which, he noted, were insufficient for the its huge pupil population.

“Most of the pupils are taught under  trees,” he said, calling on the government to come up with a quick solution to the problem.

He recalled that after the disaster struck, the Rorya District Education Officer for Primary Schools visited the school and asked the villagers to construct new ones on self-help basis, pledging that government would chip in in due course. However, the village failed to take up the challenge, he said.

He explained that the reason behind  people’s failure to construct new classrooms was famine. “The drought has renderd many villagers penniless and it is futile to expect hungry parents to contribute money for classroom construction,” he said.

Mr Tenga urged the government to look for ways  to ensure the children have conducive learning  environment.

The Rorya District chairman for CCM, Mr Samuel Kiboya, ask the Nyamtinga Ward councillor to link up with the Rwang’enyi  Village authorities to organise a harambee so that money can be raised for the construction of  the badly needed classrooms.

“We cannot wait for the government to do everything for us; we cannot tell when it will have funds, so let’s organise a fundraiser and I will invite my friends from within and outside the district and together we can raise money the construction of the classrooms,” he explained

Mr Kiboya said that the fundraiser should be organised soon so that the construction of the classroom starts the soonest.

Source @ The Citizen