The construction of new Mama Ngina Girls Secondary School in Mombasa County at a cost of Sh.170 million is progressing well.
Construction works for the prestigious national school whose work started in October last year is set for completion in October this year.
This will pave way for the relocation of the Old School in Mombasa Island which was established in 1988 to a 10-acre piece of land at Shimo la Tewa in Shanzu.
The public double stream boarding school is currently located on less than an acre piece of land at Kizingo in Mombasa town.
Following requests by the Coast leaders, the national government provided both the funds and land to relocate the only national girls’ boarding school in the coastal city of Mombasa.
The leaders had decried lack of education role models for schoolgirls and sought government support to improve the situation.
The Likoni Member of Parliament, Mishi Mboko said it is necessary to give women sufficient opportunities as they contribute towards the general betterment of the society.
Mboko said “investing in girls education will improve their access to school and in the long run improve economic development of the country”.
The legislator noted that education for girls was a sure way of eradicating abject poverty among the communities in the country.
According to the Coast Regional Director of Education (CRDE), Adan Hussein, the construction work is now at 25 per cent and added he was optimistic the school will be ready as scheduled.
Presenting a status report on the progress of the new school during the Coast Regional Development Implementation Coordination Committee (RDICC) meeting on Friday, Hussein said so far Sh.40 million has been spent on the initial work.
Hussein said the facilities in the new school are being built to create an academic environment that will facilitate advancing student successes.
“We expect the construction of the new school to be completed on time as the government has already provided the required funds,” said Hassan during the meeting that was Chaired by the Coast Regional Commissioner (RC), John Elung’ata.
The educationist said the new school is expected to accommodate more girls and provide a conducive and safe environment for the students.
Besides facing serious congestion and lacking necessary learning infrastructure, the school is currently forced to hire a playing ground for sporting activities.
A stream for day-scholars is also part of the new and expansive institution which will have a capacity of 1,800 students and will be equipped with modern learning facilities.
On his part, Elung’ata said it was imperative for all heads of government departments and parastatals to ensure that national government projects are completed as scheduled.
By Mohamed Hassan
