Overcrowded classrooms in Mwanza deter learning
Teachers forced to hold classes with 100-150 pupils instead of standard 40-45 pupils.
What you need to know:
According to regional academic officer Mr Josephat Baseki, some pupils have been forced to study in different sessions due to lack of enough classrooms.
Mwanza. Shortage of classrooms in most schools has been cited as one of the factors behind declining in education standards in the region.
According to regional academic officer Mr Josephat Baseki, some pupils have been forced to study in different sessions due to lack of enough classrooms.
Mr Baseki said in normal classroom is supposed to accommodate 40-45 pupils but in Mwanza some classrooms accommodates up to 100-150 pupils.
A spot check at some primary schools in the region by The Citizen revealed that there is a dire need of extra classrooms.
For example Nyakabungo Primary School, which has a total of over 400 pupils, has only four classrooms.
According to the school head teacher Ms Anadoreen Rugaimukamu:
“We only have four classrooms hence pupils are forced to study in sessions. The first session which involve pupils from standard one to four begins at 7.00 Am to 11.00 AM while the second session which involves pupils from standard five to seven begins at around 11.30 to 3.30 PM,” said she.
The situation is the same at Kaselya primary school. According to the schools head Mr Vitalis Peter a classroom at school accommodates up to 150 pupils.
