Wild weather destroys schools in Lakes state’s Rumbek

May 1, 2014 (RUMBEK) – Three primary schools in Lakes state’s Rumbek Central county have been destroyed following a heavy rainstorm on Wednesday, forcing pupils to attend classes under trees.

The schools affected are Ager-gum, Malual-baab and Golmeen primary schools.

Students and teachers have called on the Lakes state government to help repair damage to the schools, but their pleas have so far been ignored.

Moses Maker, a student from Golmeen primary, which was the worst-affected school, told Sudan Tribune that several classroom roofs had been blown off and textbooks and other learning material had been completely destroyed in the storm.

Reports on social media and Radio Good News confirmed that heavy rain and strong winds occurred around 4pm (local time) on Wednesday. No injuries have been reported as a result of the storm.

Amos Majak, a head teacher at Golmeen, said children were still in class when the storm hit and were instructed to leave the school compound.

Majak confirmed that damage to school facilities had forced teachers to conduct lessons outdoors while pupils sit under trees.

He said classes would continue to be disrupted unless the state government stepped in to help to replace the roofing and conduct other urgent repairs.

Majak said Rumbek Central county kitchen was also damaged in the rainstorm, with parts of Rumbek Central market completely destroyed.

Heavy rain is common in Lakes state during the May to November period.

Rumbek Central county has recently been hit by a number of destructive rainstorms, sparking calls for Lakes state’s ministry for physical infrastructure to take better preventative measures.

(ST)