Make schools safe

TWO pupils of Kachumbala Primary School in Kumi were last week killed and 18 others critically injured when a violent storm brought down a tree on their dormitory. This incident should serve as an eye opener to school administrators and parents because a similar incident could happen in any other school. The ministry of education and school authorities should immediately put in place strategies to guard against similar occurrances They should ensure giant trees are planted a good distance from the dormitories and classrooms. The existing trees that could pose danger to the students should be cut down and replaced with three others a safe distance from the buildings. The inspectorate staff should not only assess the delivery of classroom teaching but the safety of the school as well. There are many schools, particularly in urban areas, that are built without any safety precaution, particularly against fires. Most storeyed structures in schools do not have fire escapes, for instance. The ministry should liaise with the municipal and local authorities to make sure school structures meet the minimum safety standards. We do not want a repeat of what happened in Naalya SS where a student was burnt to death in a dormitory.
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