Monday, 22 May 2017

The Principles Of Building Schools In Africa Slums

By Henry Peterson


One way of improving the situation of slums in the developing nations is by constructing learning institutions for the young people. The construction projects are mostly sponsored by non-governmental organizations, the community or parents who have children or the government itself. The issue of building schools in Africa slums has changed situations by encouraging growth.

The construction projects may impact the community around either positively or negatively. Some major factors must be put in mind during the process. One region differs from another hence the means of constructing the institutions. The aspect of climate, gender and the culture of the people in the slum must be put on the front line before laying the foundation. This article has discussed some basic factors that must be considered.

A classroom should accommodate a specific number of students. The space should be enough for the desks. The school should also have room for the teachers as well as storage. Secondary school classrooms can be built larger than those in primary schools. There should also be additional facilities like a library and an office for the head teacher. Basically, the space in every classroom should be big enough to accommodate a specific number of students at a go.

Cost is another factor. The community may feel the need to reduce the cost of construction to an affordable level. The funding bodies may also want to cut down the expenses so that they can build more centers. However, the quality of the buildings must be considered. Building poorly might raise the cost of maintenance. The rooms may also be uncomfortable for the users hence discouraging them.

The source of light should also be well-thought-out. In most cases, learning institutions, especially in the slums and rural areas, rely on the sun as the primary source of illumination. This is because of lack of a stable supply of electricity. Additionally, the electricity bills might be expensive for the schools. The classes must have enough light for proper learning, and this can be through building of wooden shutters.

Most of these schools do not have any supply of clean water, and proper sanitation since the organizations sponsoring the project may have a tight budget. A proper way of providing these amenities is by digging up a borehole in the school ground so that the students can have enough water all the time. Another possible method could be collecting rainwater during the rainy seasons.

There is a broad range of building materials that can be used to build rooms at a low cost. The choice of materials depends on their availability and the price of materials in the local. Another factor that determines the materials to be used is the climate of the area. The contractor must ensure that the funds provided are enough for buying quality materials for the roof and the walls.

The information above is crucial and should be observed in every project of this nature. The living conditions of the people in slums can be improved in many ways. Providing proper education is one of the many methods. Therefore, the classes should be constructed well to provide favorable conditions that will confirm that every student is comfortable.




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