Ministry of Education moves to restore order
Schools that have been experiencing acute shortages of educational resources are currently receiving new furniture and books at different learning institutions countrywide, The Midweek Sun has learned.
This follows a story that was carried by this publication last week, detailing the sorry state which schools found themselves in during the opening of the first term.
It is said that since last week, the ministry has been busy at work, reaching out to School Heads to understand hardships they are facing in schools. And indeed some schools confirmed that they are struggling.
As of early this week, The Midweek Sun received confirmation that some schools have begun purchasing needed educational resources.
When responding to a questionnaire from this publication last week about the shortages that had hit schools, the ministry flatly denied suggestions that they are struggling financially.
So bad was the situation that school authorities had run out of ideas. Students and teachers had no chairs to sit on leading to some schools requesting parents to buy chairs for their children.
Being told to buy chairs for students was the straw that broke the camel’s back; this is a burden which parents felt signalled how things are going from bad to worse every year despite government promising that it will take care of all educational needs of students.
It appeared like government was struggling to meet its promises despite the huge budget government splashes towards education. Adding to concerns was the fact that the ministry was not coming out openly to explain what was happening.
Shortage of books and chairs was just the tip of the iceberg, there were also reports of schools having no food for students and classrooms dilapidated.
Parents’ misery was the realisation that some Parents Teacher Association committees are embezzling funds in schools when they are supposed to be assisting schools financially.
But in response, the Ministry put the blame for the mess on procurement processes and slow response to financial requests.
This week’s confirmation that schools are receiving amenities could mean an end to the torrid time, so that teachers and students can now concentrate on teaching and learning.
This follows a story that was carried by this publication last week, detailing the sorry state which schools found themselves in during the opening of the first term.
It is said that since last week, the ministry has been busy at work, reaching out to School Heads to understand hardships they are facing in schools. And indeed some schools confirmed that they are struggling.
As of early this week, The Midweek Sun received confirmation that some schools have begun purchasing needed educational resources.
When responding to a questionnaire from this publication last week about the shortages that had hit schools, the ministry flatly denied suggestions that they are struggling financially.
So bad was the situation that school authorities had run out of ideas. Students and teachers had no chairs to sit on leading to some schools requesting parents to buy chairs for their children.
Being told to buy chairs for students was the straw that broke the camel’s back; this is a burden which parents felt signalled how things are going from bad to worse every year despite government promising that it will take care of all educational needs of students.
It appeared like government was struggling to meet its promises despite the huge budget government splashes towards education. Adding to concerns was the fact that the ministry was not coming out openly to explain what was happening.
Shortage of books and chairs was just the tip of the iceberg, there were also reports of schools having no food for students and classrooms dilapidated.
Parents’ misery was the realisation that some Parents Teacher Association committees are embezzling funds in schools when they are supposed to be assisting schools financially.
But in response, the Ministry put the blame for the mess on procurement processes and slow response to financial requests.
This week’s confirmation that schools are receiving amenities could mean an end to the torrid time, so that teachers and students can now concentrate on teaching and learning.
