Wednesday, August 6, 2014

District leaders demanding bigger budgets for secondary schools

Rombo-Kilimanjaro
Funding and other resources must be increased if ward secondary schools are to improve their performance in national examinations and produce competent graduates.
 
The consensus was reached by Kilimanjaro region’s Rombo District Education Board earlier this week during a special meeting to deliberate on sustainable strategies to improve education in the Rombo District.
 
Board members, Michael Mrema and Honest Kitali were of the view that while government’s construction of the ward level secondary schools is commendable its failure to avail them with the needed resources defeats their very purpose.
 
They said the government must meet the needs of these schools or doom the students and their teachers to a cycle of underperformance every year.
“If the teaching environment is improved then performance will likewise improve,” they reasoned.
 
Chairman of the District Education Board, Festo Kilawe seconded his board members’ views and observed that the board has, among other efforts, engaged parents and guardian to contribute to development of the schools.
 
“However, we cannot continue placing this burden on the already impoverished public,” he cautioned “…the budget allocation for these schools must meet the reality on the ground,” he urged.
 
He nonetheless urged parents, teachers and the students to continue doing their best with the limited but available resources. 
 
In this regard, he commended efforts exhibited by the educators there noting that despite the below average performances, the district has been consistently improving student’s pass rates over the years. 
 
As an example, he said this year, the number of students who passed their Form Four examinations increased to 389 from last year’s 328.
 
Kilawe also announced plans to establish a special board specifically charged with improvement of primary school performances. 
 
No response was offered as to the request for increased finances and other resources the District Executive Secretary (Education and Training), Inocent Malamsha did announce plans for the construction of another secondary school in the district to offer advanced level high school education.
 
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

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