A section of primary school heads in Kilifi County are seeking help from the government and stakeholders in order for them to improve infrastructure in their schools.
The high pupil population with very few teachers is also affecting the education standards with some schools opting to teach pupils on a rotational basis.
At Fudumulo primary school in Ganze Sub County, Mrs Christine Gona, the head teacher said that the school was facing various challenges ranging from lack of enough classrooms, teacher shortage and lack of a perimeter fence around the school.
“The national government brings us money but the award is too small. I have 486 pupils with only four classrooms and six teachers. I also have 224 female students who share two latrines with two female teachers,” she said.
She said that the teacher-to-pupil ratio was 1:70 and that each teacher was handling 12 lessons forcing the school to split lessons so that some pupils attend school in the morning then go home in the afternoon while some pupils attend school in the afternoon.
She narrated how a teacher was once locked in a pit latrine by a pupil adding that the situation was contributing to immoral behaviour among pupils as some normally peep through the cracks to see what their teachers were doing in the latrines.
“I have only four incomplete classrooms constructed in 2012 by the CDF and my office has no door hence putting the security of learning materials at stake.
Her plights are shared by Mrs Constance Kanze, the head teacher of Bandacho primary school in Magarini Sub County who said that her school was grappling with a shortage of latrines and desks.
With a population of 876 pupils, the remote school has only 13 teachers hence affecting educational standards.
“All we want is for the government to post more teachers and stakeholders should also come and help improve school infrastructure,” he said.
Mr Rogers Mwachinga, the head teacher of Petanguo primary school in Ganze Sub County said that the NGCDF was doing a great job in improving infrastructure and that the kitty should be increased.
His sentiments were shared by Mr Mwalimu Rashid, the Deputy Headteacher of Mabirikani primary school in Ganze Sub County.
