Over 25,000 schools have access to reliable water sources

DODOMA: THE government has announced that a total of 5,311 secondary schools and 20,509 primary schools across the country now have access to reliable water sources.

Deputy Minister in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government – PORALG), Dr Festo Dugange, made the statement in the Parliament while responding to a question from Special Seats MP Stella Fiyao (CCM), who had asked when the government would begin installing rainwater harvesting systems in schools nationwide.

Citing 2024 Basic Education Statistics, Dr Dugange stated that of the 5,311 secondary schools with water access, 2,960 have piped water, 1,217 have wells, and 1,134 rely on rainwater harvesting systems.

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He further noted that 20,509 primary schools also have access to water — 10,965 through piped connections, 4,966 with wells, and 4,578 using rainwater harvesting.

The Deputy Minister highlighted that the government’s strategy to ensure clean and safe water in schools includes incorporating rainwater harvesting infrastructure in the budgets of new school construction or toilet projects.

“Through Local Government Authorities, the government will continue implementing various measures to ensure schools have access to clean and safe water depending on the availability of local water sources,” he stated.