Advanced level co-education should be introduced at Ruaha Secondary School in the municipality to improve students' understanding and competition among themselves. This was suggested by Form Six students in a speech during their graduation ceremony over the weekend which was officiated by the Iringa Urban MP, Mr Peter Msigwa. They said the mixture of boys and girls at schools brought various challenges which resulted into better performance in examinations at all levels. They noted in the speech that earlier the school had enrolled boys and girls for both ordinary and advanced levels, but two years ago this was changed and girls were only enrolled for advanced level studies. The system was prompted by a shortage of dormitories at the school, they said. Read part of their speech: “We ask the school management to build hostels to accommodate girls and restore the process of enrolling them for Advanced Level to improve academic performance and competence.” As a result of the challenges facing the school, they proposed that renovations should be carried out to its buildings. They also said a new science laboratory should be built and teachers given long term contracts. The school headmaster, Mr Hamis Mkota, said it had aimed to improve the learning environment so that it becomes conducive for students to learn more.
