Improve school infrastructure, Mvurya challenges government

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya has urged the national government to improve the status of school infrastructure in the county.

Mvurya alleged that majority of ECDE pupils refuse to transit to primary schools because of poor learning facilities in most of the government primary schools.

Speaking in Kinango, Mvurya said teachers and parents face a challenge in convincing children to go to higher classes because of fear of learning in pathetic environment.

“Some children decline class one admissions because they don’t want to leave the comfort found in ECDEs county schools,” he said.

The governor said to date there are primary schools whose condition are not up to the required standards.

Also Read: Changing the story: The new face of Kwale ECDE centers

He said most students in primary schools sit on stones in dilapidated classrooms.

“A number of primary schools don’t have desks and teachers can’t tell whether a student is late or not because all sides are open,” said Mvurya.

The county has so far built 469 modern ECDE centres and have feeding programs and pupils are issued with free learning materials.

The governor urged the government to intervene and construct standard structures to motivate students.

He said the situation affects children’s performances and needs to be addressed.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said the ministry will conduct an assessment of the pathetic institutions and address the issue.

He said Kwale will also benefit from the sh1.9 billion desks project.

The project was launched last week by President Uhuru Kenyatta as part of the Post-Covid-19 economic stimulus.

About 653, 000 desks are to be made locally by Jua Kali artisans to help equip primary and secondary schools.

Magoha emphasized the county’s Jua Kali youth to apply for the tender and improve their livelihoods through the project.