Heavy rains destroy school

Here is an article from today's "New Times" newspaper. In England we can't imagine rains so heavy that they could cause a school to collapse. Yet here in Rwanda it is one of the risks schools, their pupils and teachers, all have to face. The problem is mainly with mud brick ("semi-dur") construction, and is one of the reasons that when I write about schools in my blog I am so pleased when I find a school with most or all of its buildings in fired bricks.


NGOMA - Scores of students at Kabilizi Secondary School, in Ngoma District, were left traumatised and some admitted at Zaza Health Centre, after heavy rains destroyed their school.

According to school authorities, the Thursday down pour coupled with thunderstorm that lasted for about three hours, destroyed a school dormitory, dinning hall, classrooms and an administration block.

The hospitalised students were however, discharged after two days.

The area Sector Executive Secretary, Robert Bagenyi, told The New Times that the rains also destroyed banana plantations- while another source said a primary school in Karembo sector was partly destroyed.

“Not only are we talking about the buildings that were destroyed, there is this issue of spoilt students’ examination papers. Teachers have to prepare new forms of exams for the end of the year term. This exercise is expensive, and may affect the general school time table,” Bagenyi said.

District leaders said all was being done to help the school rebuild destroyed premises.

“We are now organising a rescue committee plus finance to sort out this mess. It is not easy, but the district will use the resources at its disposal to help, while seeking aid elsewhere,” the district director of planning Boniface Nirenganya said.