Puma Energy rolls out school-support programme in Zanzibar
Puma Energy Tanzania General Manager, Fatma Mohamed Abdallah (second left) together with Zanzibar education department director, Fatuma Mode (left) and the Minister for Education and Vocational Training in Zanzibar Lela Muhamed Mussa (right) during the commissioning of Kisiwandui Primary School toilets renovated by the company. PHOTO | CORRESPONDENT
What you need to know:
- The oil firm believes that refining the quality of toilets in schools will improve school attendance and performance of students among others.
Zanzibar. Puma Energy Tanzania handed over newly built and refurbished toilets at Kisiwandui Primary School yesterday, as part of the firm’s wider plan to support the government’s goal of reducing the pupil-to-toilet ratio.
Through its “Energising School Communities” programme, Puma Energy Tanzania - which is ranked by the energy regulator as the market leader in Tanzania’s oil marketing business - believes that refining the quality of toilets in schools will improve school attendance and performance of students among others.
The toilet project at Kisiwandui Primary School cost the company $50,000 (about Sh130 million).
This was based on findings of a 2018 Tanzania National School WASH Report which showed that only 25 percent of schools in Tanzania met the minimum government standard for learners per toilet.
Similarly, the report revealed that only 16.7 percent of schools provided changing rooms with basic amenities, such as water, waste bin, soap and emergency supplies.
Kisiwandui Primary School caters to 2,050 learners from kindergarten to standard six.
However, it had only ten toilets, which fell significantly short of the government’s recommended standard of 40 learners per toilet.
Gracing the launch of the initiative, Zanzibar’s Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Ms Lela Mohamed Mussa said the programme would be implemented in various schools in the Isles.
“The government will continue to work closely with Puma Energy Tanzania…,” she said.
Speaking at the event, Puma Energy Tanzania general manager, Ms Fatma Abdallah reaffirmed the company’s commitment to making a positive impact on the communities it serves in areas of access to water and safe, hygienic sanitation facilities.
