Schools set for facelift after Sh35 million sponsorship

Pupils of Naitiri Primary School in Bungoma County dance after their school was handed Sh25 million for a facelift courtesy of the Safaricom Foundation. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

"Increased enrolments demand increased infrastructure in schools, and partnership between the government and corporates to develop such infrastructure is highly appreciated," he said.

He challenged parents and local administrators to implement the government's directive of ensuring compulsory primary education for all children and 100 per cent transition to secondary school.

Wetang'ula also asked secondary school heads to be considerate of poor children in their institutions and resist the urge to constantly send them home for school fees.

"Most of the children come from poor backgrounds and are banking on education to get out of poverty," he said.

In Bungoma, Safaricom Foundation has also taken some 16 bright but poor students under the M-Pesa Foundation Academy, which does charge fees.

Tongaren MP John Chikati, who was also present, said the foundation's move will go a long way in supplementing his efforts, through NG-CDF, to improve the status of schools in the constituency.

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