THE Kuru Kururu Primary School has unveiled its newly constructed $47.6M teaching block, built courtesy of the Basic Needs Trust Funds (BNTF).

Headteacher Ms Linda Pearl received the keys to the new block from BNTF Project Manager, Mr Dikedemma Utoh on Friday.

“The Kuru Kururu Primary School was operating significantly over capacity,” Utoh said.
“Additionally, the physical condition of the buildings and facilities posed an environmental threat, and was not conducive for learning or teaching.”
Enrolment, he said, was at 976, but based on the teachers’ reports, average attendance for January 2017 was 348 males and 310 females, an average of 318 absentees.
“This alarming rate of absenteeism,” he said, “was due to overcrowding of the school, thus, defeating the objectives of teaching and learning.”

Utoh said the new teaching block will not only improve attendance, but also contribute to the realisation of better grades and results at the various examination levels from students.
“The direct beneficiaries are not only from the community of Kuru Kururu, but also the communities of Waikabra, Laluni, Madawini and Hillfoot,” he said.

Construction of the facility commenced on August 24, 2017 and was completed on January 12, 2018. The design and supervision consultant was E&A Consultants Inc., and the contractor was Satar Mohamed and Son Construction and Hardware Supplies.
Regional Education Officer (REDO) Region Four, Ms. Tiffany Favourite-Harvey has promised that her department along with the teachers at the school would endeavour to ensure that the building’ standard and quality are maintained.

“This is very good initiative, and I would like to thank ‘Basic Needs’ for their support and assistance, and would like to assure them that the headteacher and teachers at this school would certainly maintain the very high standard that the contractors have built this building at.

“Thank you to ‘Basic Needs’, and thanks to our REO Lucas, who played a pivotal role in the realisation of this building,” Favourite-Harvey said.

Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ms Pauline Lucas said that she is heartened to see the building being completed, declaring that after an extensive tour, she is certainly impressed with the evident quality that the teaching block has been constructed at.
“I am overwhelmed, as I am very impressed with the quality and standards of the work, and would like to thank ‘Basic Needs’ for agreeing to build this building for us,” Ms Lucas said, adding:

“I am confident that with the assurances given by our hardworking REDO that thus school would be well taken care of.”
The building is approximately 7,440 sq. ft and consists of five classrooms on the ground floor, and another five on the upper floor. There are also 150 desk-and-bench sets for pupils, 10 sets of teachers’ tables and chairs, 10 cupboards, 10 fire extinguishers and 10 fire buckets.