State builds first primary school on Lake Victoria island

Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo lays a foundation stone for the first primary school on Sukru Island in Lake Victoria. This was during a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday. Construction of a primary school on Sukru Island in Lake Victoria has commenced. (PHOTO: JAMES OMORO/ STANDARD)

Construction of a primary school on Sukru Island in Lake Victoria has commenced.

The national government is setting up the school to save children from sailing daily to the mainland, almost six kilometres away.

Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo, Deputy County Commissioner Obel Ojwang’ and area Chief Education Officer Emily Badia laid the foundation stone on Monday.

The island, one of more than 12 that dot the lake, has a population of about 800 people and has no school or health facility.

Sukru Primary School will start by admitting pupils from Standard One to Three. The first phase will cost Sh2.4 million. 

Ms Odhiambo donated a cheque of Sh500,000 from the Constituency Development Fund towards the project.

Three classrooms

The MP said the aim is to build three classrooms by next year so the school can admit its first pupils.

“We are going to construct these classrooms in phases to ensure that this young school grows as quickly as possible,” she said, adding that her intention was to ensure every child in the area had easy access to education.

“I am also appealing to our county government to build a nursery school on the island so that young children are not left behind,” she said.

Ms Badia promised to engage the Teacher’s Service Commission to deploy teachers to the school.

“We want parents to bring their children to this school so we can have the recommended teacher to pupil ratio of 1:40,” she said.