By Akanimo Sampson
The Tanzanian government is planning to build 1000 secondary schools across the country in an effort to ensure that every ward has access to such level of education.
This is coming as Jambiani Secondary School classrooms in South Unguja, Zanzibar are set to undergo renovations.
The school recently received donations of 200 galvanised iron sheets and some building materials from NMB Bank Branch in Zanzibar towards the project.
According to the bank’s Zonal Manager in Dares Salam, Donatus Richard, it decided to work with the entire community around Jambiani to address the challenge of leaking classrooms during the rainy season and hence improve a learning environment.
“NMB has made these donations as part of their corporate social responsibility”, he said during the handover ceremony at the school.
He further added that education was a catalyst for development so there was every reason for children to have an enabling learning environment without stress while studying.
Jambiani Secondary School Acting Head Teacher, Haji Haji, thanked the bank, saying for some time they had been facing poor classroom conditions, where students had been unable to attend classes during the rainy season, but with such support the problem had been solved.
Paje Constituency member of Parliament Sudi Nahoda, also thanked the bank for the support, saying it would address the school’s leaking buildings.
“I can assure you that the support you have given us is invaluable and in fact NMB is one of the financial institutions that care about the community in bringing about development,” he added
However, the 1000 secondary schools plan was revealed by Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government) David Silinde after he was queried by Mbagala MP Jafari Chaurembo, on when the government will build secondary schools in Mbagala, Kilungule and KibondeMaji Wards, which have no secondary schools at all.
According to the minister all those wards will have secondary schools which are part of the government’s plan to build 1000 secondary schools nationwide in all wards that do not have that level of education.
“Among the wards that will benefit are those mentioned by the MP of Mbagala, Kilungule and KibondeMaji Wards”, he said.
In his basic question, the Mbagala MP also wanted to know the government’s plan to provide funds to Temeke District Council so that it could build enough new schools due to the fact that Mbagala Constituency was leading in having more primary and secondary school students in Tanzania.
Silinde explained that in order to improve the education infrastructure in Temeke District Council, in the financial year 2017/18 to 2019/20, the government provided a sum of $312,203.53 for the construction of a new Marten Lumbanga Primary School and Dovya Primary School.
In addition, he noted that in the 2020/2021 financial year, the Temeke District Council through its internal revenue has built a one-storey building for Form Five and Six at Mbagala Secondary School at a cost of $455,368.69.
Similarly, the deputy minister said in the 2021/2021 financial year, the government has allocated $750,323.41 to Temeke District Council, of which $659,767.14 will be allocated to Mbagala Constituency for the construction of a new school in Chamazi Ward.
