Schools desperate for furniture, materials

An inter-agency educational needs assessment team has reported a “desperate need” to increase existing facilities in all schools in Lungi-Lokomassama, Northern Province, OCHA said its situation report of 28 October to 13 November. The team found that 47 percent of the schools’ 6,248 students were either returning refugees or internally displaced people. The schools lack water and sanitation, furniture, teaching and learning materials. The Ministry of Education has already sent a consignment of textbooks and UNICEF is providing other amenities. In addition, the Norwegian Refugee Council plans to renovate five schools in Lokomassama chiefdom and provide them additional furniture. The council said that the Lokomassama Secondary School had already enrolled 42 returnee children.