Mombasa: Mvita MP Mohamed Machele has unveiled an ambitious plan through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) to install solar panels in all 30 primary schools within the constituency. The initiative being undertaken in partnership with the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) seeks to reduce electricity costs and enhance energy reliability in learning institutions.

According to Kenya News Agency, the legislator said the move is long overdue, noting that many schools continue to struggle with high utility bills amid inadequate government capitation. Speaking during a consultative meeting with head teachers from public schools, Machele pledged to address the challenges facing primary schools in his constituency, including poor infrastructure and unreliable power supply.

The engagement, he said, was meant to foster collaboration in strengthening the education system and ensuring improved learning outcomes for all students. ‘Providing quality education to residents of Mvita is central to my development agenda. We have come to listen to the challenges affecting primary schools, especially in terms of infrastructure. Most of these challenges are linked to electricity. We will therefore partner with REREC to install solar panels in schools to help reduce their utility bills,’ he added.

To promote learner retention, Machele added that he is exploring partnerships with organisations such as Food4Education to provide school meals. ‘We will offer free food in schools because nutrition is key to effective learning,’ he emphasised. The MP noted that the transition from the 8-4-4 education system to the Competency-Based Education (CBE) has introduced new challenges, with some schools now having excess classrooms while others face congestion.

‘I have 30 primary schools and 13 secondary schools. Some of the primary schools have as few as three or four pupils, while others are overcrowded. We also need to equip our schools with laboratories for science, agriculture, and home science,’ he said. Machele also expressed concern over the proliferation of unregulated private schools in the Old Town area, which he said has led to a decline in enrolment in public institutions such as Serani Primary School.

‘The mushrooming of private schools has left some of our public schools with empty classrooms. We must find ways to attract learners back to public institutions,’ he said. The MP further pledged to continue working closely with the Ministries of Education and Sports to address infrastructural and academic challenges in Mvita’s education sector. He also announced plans to distribute laptops to all 30 primary schools to enhance efficiency among head teachers.