DRDIP Solar improves learning in Aliba Primary School

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By Beatrice Ociru

Obongi district is grappling with a challenge of access to energy for both domestic, commercial and institutional use. The district is not connected to either national grid or any private power distributor; hydro or thermal despite her proximity to the Nile River.

Solar installation in Aliba Primary School, Obongi

DRDIP’s Sustainable Environment and Natural Resource Management (SENRM) sub-component of: access to energy has addressed this challenge in schools and health centres where the project intervenes.

Aliba Primary School is one of the beneficiaries of this project, the headteacher, Michael Koma says they have been facing challenges in access to energy and insecurity since the place would be very dark. He notes that the school was spending a lot of money in printing examinations because of high enrolment and general operations.

The headteacher at Office during evening hours
“Power is very relevant for a school as both pupils and the teaching staff use for reading and lessons planning.”  We also need power to ensure easy trainings and use of computers and printers”. 

The solar power provided by DRDIP is now helping the students to read in the evening and the teachers are promising to achieve improved academic performance in primary leaving examinations this year.

The school also runs examinations using the solar, while teachers continue to enjoy the lighting at night to make lesson plans.  The power also provides security, “thieves are scared off at night because the place is well lit and this has reduced theft of the school property”, says teacher Koma. The solar has also extended to a nearby Church to provide lighting and security at the church premises.

Vukoni a P.6 pupil says the power helps him and his friends to do revise at night since they do not have power at home for reading and this he says will improve his performance in the forthcoming examinations.

The 180 Kilowatt solar energy is connected in all the four classroom blocks and extended to the teacher’s quarters.

Beatrice Ociru is the District Communications Officer, Obongi district.

  

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