HUYE – The head teacher of Mugogwe Primary School, in Rusatira Sector, Huye district has appealed to the government and well wishers to help refurbish the school’s buildings which are in a sorry state. Talking to The New Times, Victogène Ndayambaza, said if nothing is done, the classroom blocks are likely to collapse soon. Since May 2009, most of the old buildings were left in a dangerous state following heavy rains and winds that hit the region. Many of the school buildings which were constructed around 1969 have developed deep cracks putting in danger the lives of the 645 pupils who attend the school. Two classrooms are no longer used because the roof was blown off; other classrooms are leaking prompting pupils to seek sanctuary at the nearby catholic church whenever it rains. According to the school’s director, these poor conditions of learning are affecting pupil’s performance. “When it rains, we stop teaching and we wait until rain stops.This affects pupils’ performance in class and national examinations,” Ndayambaza said. He revealed that last year two pupils were injured after clay bocks came tumbling on them while studying. He appealed for help from government and the Catholic Church; who are the owners of the school to reinstate the school to its former glory. “I wrote to district authorities seeking for an urgent help, but nothing was done. Even the catholic church is yet to help,” Ndayambaza said. Huye district Mayor François Uhagaze, in an interview with The New Times said they have not been able to mobilize enough funds to rehabilitate the school. However, he revealed that the district plans to allocate some funds from its next year’s budget to rehabilitate classes that are in a sorry state. “Renovating the school requires a substantial amount of money.We hope to raise funds for this activity in the next budget that starts July of this year,” the Mayor said. He called on parents in the area to give their contribution to ensure that their children have a decent place to study. Ends
