Relief as Ikumbaitale village gets new school

Students from the village have been travelling as long as 16 kilometres to the nearest Kigongo Secondary School in Chato district to seek education.

With two classrooms and teachers’ office, the new school is now ready for occupation, thanks to the Tanzania National Park (TANAPA) in collaboration with local community members.

Ikumbaitale village has an estimated 241 students among them 98 girls who have been eyeing the completion of the school to save them from the fatigue occasioned by long distance travelling to school. 

While handing over the already completed facilities to the local management, Geita Regional Commissioner, Eng Robert Gabriel said the school will provide a perfect opportunity for students to learn while saving them the trouble of having to move long distances in search of knowledge.

The engineer thanked the locals who contributed towards the construction of the two classrooms and a teacher’s office, saying this will go a long way in saving the students from dropping out of school due to the long distances involved.

Speaking at the same function, Kigongo Secondary School Head Teacher Daniel Mjuni expressed a sigh of relief saying the new facilities at Ikumbataile School will relieve his School from the pressure of having to accommodate over 1200 students.

A total of 52m/- has been spent in the construction of the facilities with TANAPA  through the former chief of defence forces George Waitara promising to invest even more to ensure the school is fully constructed.

 “TANAPA will continue to support development projects especially to residents living close to the national parks,” he said.

He called upon residents living close to national parks to avoid encroaching the parks as well as practising illegal activities.