Quality concerns for the KSh1.9 bi secondary and primary school desks and lockers have developed as search for carpenters and identification of learning institutions start to intense.
According to school heads, the determination to use block wood rather than solid wood will probably affect the frame life of the desks and lockers which are to be distributed to school before the 19th of October.
The heads are questioning the decision of making cheaper block wood desks and lockers which need proper maintenance as they are likely to be damaged by drastic weather conditions in various parts of the country.
Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) national Chair Mr Kahi Indimuli noted that solid wood has a higher shelf life and suit well with different situations in learning institutions.
Some school teachers and principals who spoke to Teachers Updates revealed that managing of these lockers and desks in most learning institutions is a big challenge as they are sometimes left out in the sun and get rained on.
According to The Standard, best quality solid-wood lockers costs around 5,000 Kenyan shillings in the market but queries continue to emerge as to why the government would recommend cheaper lockers and desks which are made of materials that cannot last.
The Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha explained that each desk will amount to Sh2,500 for primary schools and Ksh3,800 for secondary school chairs and lockers. About 622,000 desks, chairs and lockers will be assembled and distributed to 30 learning institutions in every county.
Primary School that will be selected will obtain 70 desks while each secondary school that will benefit will get at least 50 of them. Plans are underway to assign schools that will benefit from the 1.9 billion projects. Schools that stand a better chance of benefiting are highly populated schools.
Learning institutions that benefit from donor support such as CDF or well-wishers and are not registered won't be considered in this project.
Deputy County Commissioners are expected to oversee their teams in ascertaining the quality of the desks, chairs and lockers and observance with the specification of the prototypes.
According to Education CS Magoha, the state has established numerous risk mitigation policies to prevent fraud in the project. The CS noted that the desks will be locally made by local artisans or SMEs (small & medium-sized enterprises) in Juakali workshops.
