The Principles Of Building Schools In Africa Slums

By Henry Peterson


Construction of schools is a significant step, especially in developing countries. Educating individuals is important since it brings development. Construction projects of this nature are normally supported and funded by the government, non-governmental organization or even the parents in the area. Building schools in Africa slums have brought development and improved the conditions of the slums.

The project can make a negative or a positive impact on the surroundings. It calls for consideration of various factors when venturing into the construction project. Regions vary, and so do the ways to construct a school. People must consider factors like climate, the culture of the people around as well as gender issues among others. The following are general issues that constructors should look at when building a school.

It is important to ensure that there is adequate space that will accommodate a defined number of pupils and their desks. Additional rooms for the teacher and storage can also be provided. Higher education centers require large classrooms. They as well need extra facilities like the library or a comfortable office for the head teacher.

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.

These are some of the important things that should be looked into during the construction. Students need to be comfortable during their learning to ensure that they grasp important content that will help in developing their lives as well as the overall well-being of a community. Therefore, they should be provided with a favorable environment for learning.




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