Govt commits to strengthening education infrastructure

MWANZA: THE government has pledged to strengthen the country’s education infrastructure to ensure teachers and students have a better and more conducive learning environment.

The statement was made over the weekend by the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Mr Sospeter Mtwale, during the closing ceremony of a capacity-building training for primary and secondary school heads held in Mwanza Region.

Mr Mtwale said the government will continue to construct attractive and student-friendly learning facilities to meet the growing demand for classrooms and other education infrastructure.

“The increase in the number of students has led to a significant rise in the demand for infrastructure at pre-primary, primary and secondary levels,” he said.

He explained that the government has revised its education policies and curricula, introducing 10 years of compulsory education from Standard One to Form Four.

“Between 2021 and 2025, the government has built 2,441 new schools, including 1,399 primary schools and 1,042 secondary schools, in rural areas that previously lacked such facilities and had high student density. In addition, 906 existing schools have been renovated,” he said.

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Mr Mtwale urged members of school construction committees to share the knowledge and skills gained from the training with their colleagues to ensure effective implementation of construction projects.

On her part, the Secretary-General of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Ms Paulina Mkwama, urged school heads to continue building on the progress made through the BOOST Project, which has improved working and learning conditions in many schools.

The Assistant Coordinator of the BOOST Project, Mr Reuben Swila, said the initiative has significantly increased student enrolment and enhanced learning outcomes.

“Through the project, we have succeeded in improving access to education. In this financial year, we plan to construct one smart classroom equipped for ICT learning,” said Mr Swila.