The government has set aside Sh17.9 million for construction of 23 classrooms in eight selected schools on pilot project in Mombasa County.
Consequently, the government has established Competence Based Curriculum development programme to upscale the current infrastructure to accommodate the needs in the targeted secondary schools countrywide by constructing 11,600 classrooms.
Speaking during a committee meeting Monday, Mombasa Deputy County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi said each classroom will cost Sh780, 000, adding that the project is expected to be delivered by April next year.
“We wish to know from each school the availability of space to build the classrooms. That is why we have involved the principals of the eight selected schools to give us an overview before the project kicks off,” he said.
The selected secondary schools in the county include Aldina Visram, Chuda Day, Mvita, Star of the Sea, Alfasi Girls, Makupa Boys, Mbaraki Girls and Sharif Nassir.
The Deputy county commissioner said the project has a specific design of construction and the identified contractors will have to abide by the proposal.
However, where space is limited the construction can be done on a storey building, added Mwiwawi.
“The amount allocated for this project is enough from the research done by the Ministries of Education and Interior and there will be no cartels in-between. The funds will be disbursed directly to the contractor from the ministry,” he said.
“There will be no advance payment and the contractor is expected to work and get paid on completion of the project,” added the Deputy County Commissioner.
He disclosed that contractor needed for the work must have financial muscle to deliver, possess integrity that can stand the test of time and who has had no litigation in any court for the last five years.
“Local contractors, either sole proprietors or in a partnership will be given the number one priority,” he added.
The Sub-County Education Director Newton Okwatsa said readiness to take up the project is critical for the committee to deliver before the set deadline, noting that close monitoring and supervision will be done by chiefs in their specific areas.
On his part, the Principal Aldina Visram Secondary School Juma Mshimu said school heads will cooperate with the committee and provide logistics to enable the project start in good time.
“We are very happy as the new approach of carrying out this particular project will certainly reduce some of burdens faced by school heads in the implementation of previous government programmes,” he said.
Meanwhile, all the selected schools have since confirmed availability of space for construction of the three classrooms and were now only waiting for site visit by the deputy county commissioner and the department of public works for approval.