New school ends 18-km trek for Mkoyo children

DODOMA: FOR years, children from Mkoyo Village in Dodoma endured an exhausting 18-kilometre walk to and from school a daily struggle that forced some to drop out and exposed others, especially girls, to serious risks.

That hardship is now coming to an end. Minister for Minerals Antony Mavunde has handed over two classrooms and three laboratories at Antony Mavunde Secondary School in Mkoyo Village, Hombolo Bwawani Ward, Dodoma City Council, significantly improving access to education.

The facilities are part of a wider 10-classroom project funded by the Sanjeev Mansotra Foundation (SMF), secured through efforts by Mr Mavunde, who is also Mtumba Member of Parliament.

Speaking during the handover, Mr Mavunde said the project was driven by the need to end the long and difficult journeys children faced in pursuit of secondary education.

Previously, students travelled about 18 kilometres’ daily to attend school in Hombolo Bwawani.

He said the distance contributed to school dropouts, while some girls became vulnerable to teenage pregnancies.

“Walking 18 kilometres is not a small matter for a child. It demands extraordinary determination to pursue education,” he said.

“My dream was to ensure Mkoyo children no longer face this burden. Today, that dream has been realised.” Mr Mavunde said his goal is to ensure children learn in a safe and supportive environment that enables them to achieve their academic ambitions.

The project followed a 1bn/- donation secured during his visit to Dubai, with funds deposited directly into the Dodoma City Council account for implementation.

Dodoma District Commissioner Jabir Shekimweri said the intervention came at a critical time.

He noted that before the school was built three years ago, about 70 students from Mkoyo selected to join secondary school each year faced major challenges due to the long distance.

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“Out of about 70 students, only an average of eight completed Form Four,” he said, highlighting the severe impact of limited access to nearby schools.

He commended Mr Mavunde for strengthening education infrastructure through partnerships.

A representative of the Dodoma City Secondary Education Division Head, Mr Frederick Mwakisambwe, said construction of the two classrooms and three laboratories cost 240m/- .

In a related development, Mr Mavunde also handed over eight classrooms at Makutupora Primary School, built with support from the same donors at a cost of 202.4m/-.

A representative of the Sanjeev Mansotra Foundation, Mr Darchile Mansontra, said the foundation would continue supporting development initiatives in partnership with stakeholders.

The new school has brought a major boost to education prospects for children in the area.