Islamic Relief organisation, in collaboration with the National and County governments, is working to renovate dilapidated classrooms and construct new ones to improve the learning environment in public schools in Kilifi and Tana River Counties to support students who have been studying under trees and in poorly maintained buildings.
Through its school renovation initiative, the organization has already built 35 classrooms, benefiting over 6,000 primary school learners while striving to assist more schools in the marginalized areas of the counties.
During the project inspection tour on Monday, Islamic Relief Director Hassan Abdille highlighted the dire conditions under which students in some schools in the counties are learning and dedicated part of their resources to improving the educational infrastructure.
“A lot of schools in Kilifi and Tana River County suffer from a lack of proper infrastructure. Students often learn in non-conducive environments, either under trees or in dilapidated classrooms. Our goal is to improve these conditions,” he said.
He added that the initiative would support hundreds of children by providing not only classrooms but also desks, dining halls, and water storage facilities through an integrated program approach.
Mapimo Primary is one of the most affected schools, with the organization currently renovating seven classrooms and constructing five new ones to prevent children from having to conduct classes under trees. The school’s infrastructure, including classrooms with rotten roofs and weak walls, has made it unsafe for learners.
Abdille revealed that many other schools are in similar conditions and that the organization is committed to working with all stakeholders to create favorable learning environments.
“So, we are emphasizing on how we can improve education, increasing enrolment, making the environment conducive for the learners and precisely to making sure that education is acquired in this region,” he said.
He emphasized the need for cooperation among all stakeholders to ensure marginalized schools are conducive to learning and to improve enrollment and education standards in the region.
Mapimo Primary School head teacher Florence Omwega while addressing the media expressed relief and gratitude for the intervention by Islamic Relief saying the school is congested and they’re forced to squeeze over 80 pupils into one classroom while conducting other classes in the open.
The renovation and construction of new classrooms, as well as the donation of desks, will significantly improve the situation, she said.
However, Omwega appealed for further assistance, as the enrollment of learners is high, but resources, including toilets, are insufficient to accommodate the large number of children.
“When it is raining, the children are stranded. We do not have somewhere to shelter the children because we do not have enough infrastructure. You can imagine a rainy season like now the children are learning trees. When it starts raining, we have to tell them to go home”, she said
Head teachers of schools that have already benefited from the project reported increased enrollment and retention rates, as well as improved academic performance.
Led by Hurara primary school head teacher Idris Kone, the teachers lauded the school renovation initiative saying it is a game changer in improving the education standards of children in marginalized areas.
Urara Primary School had eight of its classes conducted under trees but Islamic Relief stepped in and constructed 15 new classrooms, a multi-purpose hall, and underground water storage, greatly boosting the school’s infrastructure.
By Jackson Msanzu
