Mbeya Rural MP Patali Shida Patali has donated roofing materials to support the completion of a girls’ dormitory at Shisyete Secondary School in Ilomba Ward, Mbeya District, in a move aimed at improving safety and learning conditions for female students.
The MP handed over two bundles of iron sheets over the weekend through his secretary, Emmanuel Mkoma, to the leadership of Shisyete village.
The contribution targets the final stages of constructing the dormitory, which is expected to accommodate girls who currently walk long distances to school.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Mr Mkoma said the donation followed a request made by Ilomba Ward councillor on December 22, 2025, during the MP’s visit to the area.
He said Mr Patali was moved by the challenges faced by girls who travel from distant villages to attend school.
“Some students walk more than five kilometres to reach school. As we all know, girls face various risks on their way, including exposure to harassment and other dangers that can derail their education. That is why the MP decided to join other stakeholders to ensure the dormitory is completed,” Mr Mkoma said.
He added that providing accommodation close to the school would help protect girls from unsafe environments while also improving their academic performance by giving them more time to study.
Mr Mkoma also noted that the initiative complements earlier support from Special Seats MP Engineer Maryprisca Mahundi, who had previously contributed to the project with the shared objective of safeguarding girls and promoting access to education in rural areas.
Residents welcomed the contribution, describing it as timely and impactful. Ms Juliana Nziku, a resident of Shisyete village, thanked the MP for the donation, saying it would make a significant difference to students’ learning outcomes.
“With a dormitory, girls will spend less time walking long distances and more time studying. This will help improve performance, especially for female students,” she said.
The girls’ dormitory at Shisyete Secondary School is part of community-led efforts to address school dropouts and low attendance among girls in remote areas, where distance and safety concerns remain key barriers to education.
Local leaders said they would continue mobilising support to ensure the facility is completed and becomes operational as soon as possible.