Speaker calls for assessing state of schools’ infrastructures

DODOMA: SPEAKER of Parliament, Dr Tulia Ackson has urged the government to carry out a countrywide assessment on the state of schools’ infrastructures and come up with a plan on how to rehabilitate those that are worn out.

The Speaker issued the call yesterday after some Members of Parliament, during the Questions and Answers Session, sought the government response on its plan to renovate some schools whose infrastructures were worn out in their constituencies.

According to Dr Tulia, the deterioration of schools’ infrastructures appeared to be a big problem in the country, calling for a strategy to address it so that children could continue learning in good environment.

She said psychologically it was not good to find some children studying in new or renovated classrooms while others stayed in dilapidated buildings in the same school.

Bahati Ndingo (CCM-Mbarali) and Shabani Shekilindi (CCMLushito) were among the MPs who asked for the government response on its strategy to renovate worn-out infrastructures in some schools in their constituencies.

Responding to the questions, Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Dr Festo Dugange said the government has started identifying schools in all constituencies across the country whose infrastructures are worn-out.

He said after the identification process of the schools, renovating them will start in phases.

However, the deputy minister informed the MPs that there were cases whereby the government was forced to build new classrooms after establishing that the existing buildings were worn out beyond repair.

Speaking specifically on renovation of schools in Lushoto constituency, the deputy minister said in 2022/2023 financial year, the government dished out 796.5m/- for the construction and renovation of Mshangai and Kwemsha primary schools.

He said in 2023/2024 financial year, the government allocated 180m/- for the renovation of old primary schools of Nyankei, Mhelo, Hemtoye and Mbaramo.

Two months ago, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa informed the august House that the government had spent 1.29tri/- in the past two years on education infrastructure development projects in a bid to improve teaching and learning environment in public primary and secondary schools.

According to Premier Majaliwa, the disbursed total amount, 484.3bn/- was allocated for the construction of new 342 pre-primary and primary schools with 9,189 classrooms.

He gave the statistics when giving a report on the implementation of new Education and Training Policy 2023 and Education Curriculum which took effect in January 2024.

Mr Majaliwa said the funds covered construction of 346 new teachers’ residential units, 28 dormitories and renovation of 45 old schools.

He added that the remaining 837.8bn/- was allocated to the local government authorities for construction of new 486 secondary schools with 21,990 classrooms, 280 teachers’ residential units, 221 dormitories, renovation of 21 old secondary schools, 151 laboratories and 23 conference halls.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth Employment and People with Disabilities) Patrobas Katambi informed the House that the government has begun working on the programme of hiring a special cadre of workers meant to serve learners with special needs in educational settings.