HUYE - The Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) on Friday donated 29 desks to Mugogwe Primary School in Huye District as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Handing over the desks, the bank’s Huye branch manager; Jean Christophe Sayinzoga, said that KCB is committed to assist in improving the welfare of local communities through interventions in education, environment protection and health.

"This year, KCB group devoted KShs17million to sponsor various social welfare programmes. We at KCB Huye branch are delighted to have helped one of the needy schools in the district acquire furniture for its pupils,” said Sayinzoga.

With over 600 pupils, Mugogwe Primary School, located in Rusatira Sector, is in a dilapidated state. The roof of one classroom block was blown away during a heavy storm that hit the area in 2009. All other classrooms blocks are leaking.

During heavy downpour, studies at the school are halted as pupils seek shelter in the nearby church building and under trees.

"It is difficult to study when the rains come down,” lamented Denise Uwaduhaye, a primary five pupil at the school. "The roofs on all classroom blocks are leaking so we are forced to abandon lessons to seek shelter at the nearby church and under trees.”

Victogen Ndayambaza, the school’s head teacher told The New Times that the problem of poor infrastructure at the government aided school has been communicated to the district authorities but the district has been slow to respond.

"We were hit hard by storm in 2009, the roof on one building was blown off while all other school buildings are leaking, this will inevitably affect pupils’ grades,” said Ndayambaza.

Aloysie Nyirasabimana, the Huye district vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, revealed that Rwf 8 million has been set aside to rehabilitate the school, a sum the schools’ head teacher says is far too little.

"The whole school needs a facelift, from the roofs to the classroom floors; we need more financial support to ensure that the classrooms are renovated before the start of the next academic year,” said Ndayambaza.

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