EDITORIAL: REVIEW CLASSROOMS DECISION
What you need to know:
- While there is no doubt that Mr Jafo’s directive is well intentioned, it is very difficult not to agree with HakiElimu as far as the quality of workmanship that would go into the construction of the classrooms and dormitories is concerned. The directive brings back memories of the campaign a few years ago to ensure that all public schools had enough desks. There were cases of desks that were so poorly made that they fell apart even before pupils started to use them.
The civil society organisation HakiElimu has voiced its concern about the directive by the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mr Selemani Jafo, that 478 classrooms and 269 dormitories be built within two months to accommodate over 21,000 students who have missed out on Form Five places in public schools.
While there is no doubt that Mr Jafo’s directive is well intentioned, it is very difficult not to agree with HakiElimu as far as the quality of workmanship that would go into the construction of the classrooms and dormitories is concerned. The directive brings back memories of the campaign a few years ago to ensure that all public schools had enough desks. There were cases of desks that were so poorly made that they fell apart even before pupils started to use them.
The fact is that the safety of students and teachers cannot be guaranteed if such a large number of classrooms and dormitories are built within such a short period. Regulations guiding the construction of such facilities must be followed to the letter. There should be no shortcuts, however desperate the situation may be.
