Tana River pupils struggle to learn in deplorable conditions at Maderte ECDE Centre

Barely 10 kilometres from Hola, Tana River's county headquarters, a learning centre, Maderte ECDE, is standing in a sorry state.

As one approaches the new county headquarters offices, located just two kilometres from the centre, the sounds of 56 children can be heard shouting syllables at the top of their lungs.

The optimism in their voices hides the struggle of keeping their dreams alive and learning in an environment in a deplorable state.

A classroom, defined by dry twigs, loosely tied to old frames, and a wall made of pieces of sacks overwhelmed by the strong winds is testimony of a centre that has yielded more than 400 alumni.

"This centre was started in 2018, but was registered by the county government in 2019, which is when it received its first professional teachers," said Mohammed Komoro, a teacher.

An ongoing lesson at the Maderte Preparatory School in Galole Constituency, Tana River County. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

According to Komoro, the county government has not made an effort to make the situation any better despite their incessant pleas.

He notes that the pupils learn in shifts, with pre-primary education 1 (PP1) starting their lessons from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. before paving the way for PP2, who takes the session that runs up to noon.

"As you can see, the children have not been provided with writing material, so only the few who can afford it come with a book for all subjects, "he said.

The blackboard is a piece of metal stretched from tanks abandoned by road construction workers that the teachers have divided into two to suit the two groups.

Mohammed Bonaya, the school's board chairperson, noted that the conditions the learners and their teachers are subjected to are inhumane.

"This school does not even have a toilet; children are watching their teachers going to the bush; they follow that example, yet the county government is aware of this," he said.

He reiterated that most learners in neighbouring villages are fast dropping out, as they suffer respiratory problems time after time due to dust and the extremely cold wind of the morning.

Maderte Preparatory School Board Chairman Mohammed Bonaya at the school in Maderte Village, Tana River County. (Photo Farhiya Hussein)

Further, he lamented that whereas well-wishers have expressed the desire to help them build a structure, the land is not registered, hence, difficult to develop permanent structures.

"We cannot make any progress; there is no store, no kitchen, no water, even a water tank; it is difficult for children here; we need help," he said.

Amina Salat, a parent, expressed that it is shameful for the county administration to have ignored their plight for seven years.

She blamed the county administration for ethnically sidelining the children, noting that the move to have their children learn in such a deplorable environment is deliberate.

"They deploy teachers here knowing well that they have not built or made any effort to build us a school or a single classroom; they can't say they have been budgeting or planning for just a classroom for seven years; it's pure malice, she said.

In response to the school's deplorable conditions, Tana River Education Executive Abas Kunyo promised that the county administration would construct a classroom for the centre.

"We have since bought the necessary materials and will soon be delivered to the area for construction to begin; it is an issue we have been working on," he said.

He refuted the claims that the administration had ethnically sidelined the community, noting that the department was working on ensuring all ECDE centres were upgraded and built into model institutions.

An ongoing lesson at the Maderte Preparatory School in Galole Constituency, Tana River County. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)