By Bakary Touray Jr.
The National Assembly Member (NAM) for Sandu, Hon. Muhammed Mahanera, has recently rounded off a three-day investigative tour of schools in his constituency.
The objective of the investigative tour, as Mansa Banko Online gathered, was to assess the conditions of the schools in his constituency so as to get firsthand knowledge on how teaching and learning is faring in the concerned educational establishments.
The visit took the Sandu people’s Representative in the country’s legislative House, to six schools, namely: Diabugu Upper and Senior Secondary School; Mbye Kunda Lower Basic School; Sare Batch Lower Basic School; Naudeh Lower Basic School; Kurawu Basic Cycle School; and Demba Wandu Basic Cycle School.
Mahanera employed procedures such as tete-a-tete discussions with the respective administrations of the said schools, interview with some their staff and students, discussion with some village heads of the various villages where the schools are located, and conducted tour of the facilities of the schools to know the status quo of the schools.
During his visit, Hon. Mahanera, has discovered and highlighted lack of electricity supply, unfenced School environment, insufficient water supply, insufficient learning materials, insufficient classrooms, lack of teaching and learning materials such as laboratory apparatus and technical materials for woodwork and metal work, dilapidated staff quarters, as constraints facing the schools, making learning difficult for the students.
The lawmaker recommended for the construction of adequate classrooms, provision of educational furniture, provision of water supply, proper fencing of schools, and building of staff residence and provision of solar panels.
This, the Constituency’s Representative believes, would undoubtedly put the difficulties and constraints of the schools in history, make and encourage students and teachers to focus on their academic activities with ease and comfort.
The NAM posited: “The urgent provision of solar panels to support the short term supply of electricity should be a priority to the educational authorities and possible donors.
“This will ease educational challenges of the students and support the usage of modern day technology in the schools visited.”.