Parents donate cash, materials to support Shalom school

By our correspondent

At least five million shillings was donated last week during a fund raising event for Shalom primary school which is bracing to move its campus to Njiro area.

Other contributions were two lorries of sand, 15 bags of cement, two sets of Asian type toilets and a cake that was auctioned and raised Tsh.55,000.

The colourful ceremony was officiated by the Arusha CCM District Chairman, Mr. Jubilate Kileo, who kicked off the event by presenting a cheque of Tsh.500,000 from the Member of Parliament for Arusha, Mr. Felix Christopher Mrema.

Mr. Kileo urged the people to value education for their children rather than giving them luxury cars, money or other property for their inheritance. He said education was the most important thing to give to children because nobody can steal it from them.

He congratulated the management of Shalom primary school for their decision to invest in education by opening the new campus at Block D in Njiro area, Arusha municipality. Currently, the school is located off Kanisa Road in ‘Uzunguni’ area.

Earlier the Chairman of the school board, Dr. Jaji urged for more contributions to enable the school attain its goal.

The Director of the school, Mr. F. Ndabagoye, said the school started in 1995 with only five students and by this year the number is 252 pupils from baby class up to standard five.

The audience burst to laughter when students presented a poem entitled: I wish I were a coin. It emphasized parents need to use money for their children’s education rather than invest in their bellies. When they ended the poem they marched carrying sticks and belting out a Maasai song on education.

Meanwile, Happy Lazaro reports that more than Shs. 4.5 million has been raised for the expansion of the Naasha Junior Academy, a private primary school situated in the Oloirien Ward, the Arusha Municipality.

The amount was raised last week during a fund raising ceremony, which brought together businessmen and parents.

Speaking before the ceremony, the School Headteacher, Mr. David Inzofu said that the fund to be raised is for construction of buildings estimated to cost Shs. 22 million. He also added that his school is in dire need of more land. Currently, the school is built on a three- acre piece of land which is not adequate for classrooms and other facilities.

Last modified: November 06, 2003.
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