Description

Ngaramtoni primary school a local
government-run school in Ekenywa village, Arusha
rural district, Tanzania has been a pillar of education
for residents in the community since 1978. However
for several years the school, which sits on 4 acres
of land was only able to enroll about 500 pupils due
to logistical challenges, including insufficient class
rooms, feeding and toilet facilities.

Through community dialogues facilitated by the
Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) in the area in 2012,
residents highlighted the fact that the school had
less toilet facilities than the requisite number for its
population of 500. With only 7 stances for boys and
7 for girls, the school was in clear violation of the
national education policy which called for a ratio of 1
stance for every 20 girls and 1 for every 25 boys. The
community was also concerned for the health and
safety of the children, owing to the dilapidated state
of the toilets.

According to 12 year old Kevin, a pupil:
“Vyoo vilikuwa vimearibika sana, vichafu
na tungeweza ata kutumbukia’’ The toilets
were in bad condition that would endanger
our lives.”

CVA community meetings were used as a tool to
sensitize the community about the importance
of hygiene and local ownership of development
initiatives. As a result, the community fundraised
towards the construction of 18 new stances, with 9
new facilities for boys and 9 for girls.
The community further fundraised towards the
construction of 6 new classrooms to add to the
existing 7 operational facilities. This resulted in an
increase in enrollment of pupils at the school from
500 to 735.

The school leadership also managed to mobilize
stakeholders to support the development and
launch of a one-year school feeding program. The
programme, which was launched on 1st August 2013
saw the school partner with CONVOY OF HOPE
to provide the pupils with nutritious flour and sugar.
Parents of the pupils also agreed to open a fund for
the regular provision of firewood to the school, as
well as the procurement of the services of a cook
and a security guard.