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Ngudu students boycott classes, complain of shortage of basic needs
2007-10-25 09:42:53
By Emmanuel Chacha, Mwanza
Form five and six students of Ngudu Secondary School in Kwimba District, Mwanza Region yesterday boycotted classes to press the government to work on acute shortage of teachers, classrooms, desks and teaching materials.
Reports from Ngudu said that the strike started on Monday this week and that some form I-III day students joined their brothers yesterday.
The students claimed that the school which has a total of 800 students relies only on eight teachers who teach form I - VI; and that since last year they had never been taught English subject following the death of the teacher who taught the subject.
“In fact from last July, we have never been taught Chemistry, Biology and Kiswahili after eight teachers who used to teach the subjects went for further studies, leaving us idle for three months now.
We therefore think there is no need for us to go to school while there are no teachers, books, classrooms and desks,” one student who refused to tell his name said over the telephone from Ngudu.
He said there was a shortage of 300 desks and other school furniture, classrooms, books and other teaching materials particularly for form V and VI students.
“For a long time we have demanded action from school administration but promise made has been fulfilled. We are told that our demands have been forwarded to higher authorities but to-date nothing has been implemented, and there is no sign of hope,” he said.
The School Headmaster, Charles Manoni, confirmed the incident and admitted the problems student claim to be facing. he said that all students demands have been forwarded to high authorities.
“It is true that the students came into my office complaining about those problems. This matter is beyond my capacity so I forwarded it to higher authorities for further action,”he said.
When contacted, the Kwimba District Commissioner, Danny Makanga, said that his office and the regional education office were working on the matter.
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