Nyangera Primary School, which was in the media’s spotlight for having extremely dilapidated classrooms, will finally have modern ECDE classrooms after Siaya county began construction of the infrastructure.
The school, located in East Yimbo ward, Usigu sub-county, was the subject of media reports in local dailies highlighting the plight of learners in the school recently.
Siaya county government came to the rescue and awarded an emergency tender for the construction of a new ECDE block which will hold two new modern classrooms equipped with furniture, two-door toilets and an office at a cost of Ksh4.3 million.
School head teacher George Nyamai said that the initial status of the classrooms was risky for children, which forced some parents to transfer their children to private institutions.
Nyamai disclosed that the neighbouring community had made numerous requests to the county to have a new ECDE center constructed at the school but their pleas had never been considered.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the modern classes, area MCA Francis Otiato blamed the county government for failing to prioritize the construction of ECDE facilities in all established primary schools.
“Currently we have 26 primary schools in the ward and only 11 have an ECDE center. This is a failure on the part of the executive since county government is mandated to run ECDE centers and village polytechnics,” Otiato said.
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He also faulted the executive for allocating Ksh50 million for the construction of two modern ECDE centers in Bondo and Siaya towns, saying the focus should be on elevating ECDEs in existing schools not standalone facilities in town where very few people will benefit.
“Let MCAs construct the standalones where the distance between schools is considerably far, the executive should deal with established schools,” he stated.
According to Otiato, the construction is expected to take 10 weeks and the facility will be ready for use at the beginning of first term in January 2025.
By Erick Nyayiera
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