Handing over the bags to the headmaster of the school on behalf of the construction committee, Vice Chancellor of Sokoine University of Agriculture, Prof. Raphael Chibunda said the university was touched by the situation at the school immediately after seeing students studying under a tree.

"... as a university, we can't get students if they haven't gone to primary school, that would be a miracle so we thought that should not be a problem for the people of Mlali alone but for us as well, this is part of recognizing and supporting the great efforts being done by the fifth phase government of the United Republic of Tanzania under our beloved president, John Pombe magufuli to improve education sector'' said Prof Chibunda.

Prof. Chidunda added that the Government has made serious efforts to improve the buildings of Primary, Secondary, College and University buildings with the aim of creating a better environment for the student to learn and the teacher to teach.

Prof. Chibunda visiting one of the school's classrooms and talking to students

He also called on the construction committee of Mlali primary school to ensure the proper use of the cement so that the classrooms are completed on time to enable students to have a place to study.

Prof. Chibunda has promised school officials to continue to work with them to ensure that the school's infrastructure is completed, and that what they have done today is just the beginning and when they get another chance they will continue to support the school.

Mlali Primary School Headmaster, Mr. Omary Kibukila talking about the challenge of classes, toilets and lack of desks during a short ceremony to receive 100 bags of Concrete from SUA

Speaking immediately after receiving the aid, Mlali Primary School headmaster, Mr. Omary Kibukila thanked Sokoine University of Agriculture for providing the support and promised to use the cement as required.

Mr.Kibukila also said that the school is facing a shortage of 35 out of 43 required classrooms and so far only eight classrooms are used, with the shortage of toilets in the school being 35 out of 41 holes required for boys and the female deficiency being 51 out of 60.

Sokoine University of Agriculture vice chancellor, Prof. Raphael Chibunda talking to school, village officials and parents before handing over 100 bags of cement for classroom construction due to many children missing classes and studying outside

For his part, Mlali Ward Education Officer, Mr. Ally Mbaraka said after seeing the challenge of shortage of classrooms in the school, the Village Government and the ward planned to start construction of three classrooms which are expected to be completed by September this year.

He also added that Mvomero District Council has planned to build nine classrooms by November while the central government has already brought in 40 million shillings that will be used to complete the construction of classrooms and set up desks.

Mlali Primary School has a total of 2,227 students who are divided into three groups.
 

Prof. Raphael Chibunda handing over 100 bags of cement to the school and village leadership as an initial SUA contribution to the construction of classrooms at the Mlali Primary School where students study under the trees

In another step, Sokoine University of Agriculture has handed over a pumping machine to the TUKALEGOYA Farmers Group located in Mlali Village, Mlali Ward, Mvomero District, which operates under the auspices of the RIPAT SUA Project which is being implemented in partnership between SUA and the RECODA headquartered in Arusha.

Prof. Raphael Chibunda handing over a water pump to the TUKALEGOYA group in Mlali ward which is under the RIPAT SUA Project which is a partnership project between SUA and RECODA where the group requested the machine to support the irrigation of their model farm

The handover of the pumping machine came after a request from the group on farmer's day in the field where they said they find it very difficult to irrigate their model farm during the dry season where they used to fetching water from the river so access to the machine will facilitate irrigation and enable their model farm to operate throughout the year with farmers learning without getting stuck

Mlali Primary School headmaster, Omary Kibukila talking about the challenge of shortage of classrooms, toilet holes as well as Lack of desks during a short ceremony to receive 100 bags of cement from SUA

Mlali Village Executive Officer and representative of Education Officer, Mr. Ally Mbaraka giving a word of thanks after receiving the Cement

Chairman of the TUKALEGOYA group receiving a certificate of handover of Irrigation Machines from the vice chancellor of Sokoine University of Agriculture Prof. Raphael Chinunda

Mlali village executive officer who represented the education officer showing the vice chancellor of Sokoine University of Agriculture, Prof. Raphael Chibunda something when he visited the buildings of the Mlali primary school
 

Story Credits

Calvin Gwabara, SUAMEDIA