Support infrastructural development of schools, experts urge Nyanza leaders

Some education professionals have urged leaders in Nyanza to focus on improving the learning environment of primary and secondary schools in the region.

The education stakeholders argued that many schools have dilapidated and shortage of infrastructure that makes the learning environment un-conducive for both teachers and learners.

The Director of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Charles Ong’ondo, former Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Jwan and Lake Basin Development Authority Managing Director (LBDA) Wycliffe Ochiaga said poor infrastructures affect academic performance.

Ong’ondo urged the community not to wait for the government to do everything pertaining education including improving dilapidated primary and secondary school buildings.

He said the government of Kenya is doing a lot in supporting education but community support is key in creating a conducive environment in schools for pupils to learn.

“The government supports many programmes in the sector including issuance bursaries, 100 per cent transition and construction of classrooms for children to acquire education. Let leaders chip in and do the rest because the schools help the community and not the government,” Ong’ondo said.

Speaking during a fundraiser at Oneno Primary School, Kochia ward in Rangwe constituency on Friday, the KICD director said there are many schools with dilapidated infrastructures yet some people who hold prominent positions learnt in them.

Ong’ondo called on leaders to reciprocate the knowledge they got from such schools by improving their infrastructures.

Homa Bay Roads executive Danish Onyango and Kochia MCA Michael Nyang’i were present.

“I appeal to people from Nyanza to go back to the primary or secondary schools which made them become what they are today and make them better,” Ong’ondo said.  

Jwan said improving the school infrastructure enhances the retention of pupils in schools.

He argued that academic performance is sometimes connected to the infrastructure of a school. 

“Good infrastructure gives learners morale to study. This also prevents cases where learners migrate from one school to another because they concentrate on academics,” Jwan said.

Ochiaga urged parents to develop the habit of enrolling their children in public schools. He argued that public schools have qualified teachers and the requisite learning facilities.

“Let us enrol our child in public schools because that is where the quality of education is,” Ochiaga said.

Nyang’i called on residents to cooperate with leaders in promoting development in schools.

“Let local communities co-operate with teachers to enable achievement of desired results,” Nyang’i said.

Onyango said the county government is committed to promoting education.

“We’ve scholarship and bursary programmes for promoting the education of children in this county. Let us support one another in education,” Onyango said.