RC orders tracking of ‘missing’ 228 Form One student

DODOMA: DODOMA Regional Commissioner (RC), Ms Rosemary Senyamule has directed authorities in Kongwa District Council to trace 228 students, who have yet to report for Form One studies at Mlali, Sagara and Laikala Secondary Schools.

Speaking during her working tour of Kongwa District on Tuesday, Ms Senyamule ordered that the missing students be marked and enrolled immediately, stressing the government’s commitment to providing education for all.

“They must be traced, wherever they are. This is the government’s intention….it has invested heavily in school infrastructure to ensure that every child has access to education,” she said.

The RC also instructed school heads to submit a list of absent students to local government officials, so that their parents or guardians are identified.

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“By Monday, I need a report on how many students have been traced and enrolled and how many cases have been taken to court. We cannot have well-constructed school buildings while children remain at home. This is for their own benefit,” she said.

Ms Senyamule further commended Kongwa District for its efforts in the education sector, noting that these efforts have led to a 5.7 per cent increase in academic performance.

Mlali Secondary School Headmaster, Sehewa Mtalaze, provided an update, stating that of the 456 students allocated to the school for the 2025 academic year, 356 had reported, leaving 100 yet to enrol.

“The names of those who have not reported have already been submitted to the ward executive officer for follow-up,” Mr Mtalaze said. He also said that 206 of the 456 students are expected to be transferred to the newly established Mlali Bondeni Secondary School.

Sagara Ward Executive Officer, Abdulnasil Mboya, said that of the 286 students selected for Form One at Sagara Secondary School, 234 had reported, leaving 54 still unaccounted for.

Similarly, at Laikala Secondary School, 194 students had been selected for Form One, but only 120 had reported, while 74 had yet to enrol.

Mr Mboya also highlighted key developments in education infrastructure, revealing that in the past five years, Laikala Secondary School had received five new classrooms and two administrative offices, valued at 100m/-. These projects were funded through the Covid-19 relief fund and the ‘Kapu la Mama’ initiative.

He added that the construction of a 60m/- science laboratory, funded by the local government, had been completed.

“The construction of Makeweni Primary School in Laikala A village is nearing completion and Laikala B Primary School is also under construction, with pit latrines already in place,” he noted