With schools set to re-open on Monday next week, over 800 pupils of Chepsai primary school in Matete, Lugari constituency risk missing school after three of their classrooms collapsed while the remaining ones have been declared unfit for learning by the ministry of public health.
According to the school management, most of the buildings in the school are in a pathetic state with dilapidated roofs and walls that could collapse any time.
Speaking to West media, the school deputy head teacher Sarah Induri Nasongo said the school requires more than Sh.10 million to put up new buildings disclosing that a total of ten classrooms and several pit latrines have been condemned.
“Most of the classrooms were built in 1974; seven can no longer be used since they were condemned. Three classrooms hosting 300 pupils of grade one, two and three have collapsed complicating things even further,” she said.
She added: “I thank God the incident occurred at night because no one was in school save for the night guard, we could be talking of a major calamity today.”
The affected buildings are adjacent to the school’s administration block and senior teacher office. “Our major worry is where our learners will study from.”
School’s Board of Management (BOM) chairman, Michael Sitikho said they have already received a notice from the Public Health department warning that the school could be closed if new classrooms and pit latrines are not constructed by July 26.
“Most of the classes were constructed using blocks which are now dilapidated and pose a major risk to the learners, the roofs are old, rusty and leaking,” said Sitikho.
The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) chairman Solomon Shabir urged Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Lugari MP Ayub Savula to intervene and help the school put up new classrooms.
“We need help to transform this school into a friendly learning environment for the learners,” said Shabir.
