Students of the Kenya Medical Training College at Ndagani in Tharaka Nithi County share the same tuition block with pupils of Ndagani primary school because of the delayed construction of the KMTC complex at Chuka Level Five Hospital.
The college’s lecturers also have offices and lecture halls in the single tuition building, although on the upper level. While the pupils have been moved into a section of the first and ground floors.
When the bell rings, the pupils make their usual dash to the classrooms and the college students have learned to give way when that happens.
Older pupils have been said to take advantage of the proximity to engage the older students for advice.
However, to maintain respect and seniority, the pupils have been allocated separate toilets and they dare not venture into ones meant for the college.
The primary school was moved on May 10, from its former location, in a land swap with Chuka University which is using the land to construct a library.
A teacher from the primary section stated that the pupils and teachers cannot wait to have the entire building to themselves. The university built this complex as a model primary school.
The KMTC campus in Tharaka Nithi County was approved six years ago but Chuka University accommodated the first batch of its students in a compound that belonged to Ndagani Primary School, within the university compound.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Erastus Njoka said the council decided to accommodate the KMTC in September 2015 because no other venue could be found.
“We talked with the university council and agreed to give the building to KMTC since 2015 because they had nowhere to go. Because there is a construction of a library where the primary school was, we have decided they share (the KMTC complex),” said Prof Njoka.
Ndagani Primary School Headteacher Joseph Keah said sharing the building with KMTC has given the pupils an ideal place to learn. They thank the university for giving the pupils a conducive environment to learn and the local community is very happy.
According to prof Njoka, it has been 6 years and the project is not yet complete. They are asking the government to work faster and finish the project, after which they will assess it before releasing the students.
He further assured parents and other stakeholders that the university, which offers nursing and other medical courses, will continue to support KMTC.
“We have first-class laboratories and other facilities which KMTC students can make use of, as they further their education,” he stated.
