Long walking distances is one of the leading causes for students to discontinue secondary school in rural communities.

1,114 students (53% girls) attend Qash Secondary School, one of So They Can’s partner schools in Tanzania. Its remote location means that most students walk a 10 to 18-kilometre roundtrip every day. Not surprisingly, the student dropout rate over the four years of lower-level Secondary School (Form 1 – Form 4) was 60% in 2024.

In 2021, the School Board converted 7 classrooms into temporary hostels to accommodate an average of 250 girls and 120 boys. The facilities were used by students sitting the mandatory national exams in Form 2 and Form 4. It was an effective approach to improve academic performance – the school improved its ranking to 8th, out of 40 secondary schools, in the Babati District, previously it ranked 33rd. However, the problem of high dropout rates due to long distances still remained.

Qash Secondary is a secondary school in the Qash Ward, which children from 8 primary schools transition to attend. The communities from these villages hold responsibility for contributing towards their children’s education. Building on the community’s efforts and contributions, So They Can has supported construction of its first boarding facility. An 80-bed girls’ dormitory, with 40 double bunk beds, 5 toilets (including 1 for children with Special Needs) and 5 showers. The Qash community were an important part of the project, contributing 10% of the total project cost in the form of local materials and labour for the build.It was a joyful occasion for everyone when the doors officially opened in May 2025.

‘I am very grateful to the So They Can organisation for constructing this dormitory for us. Now, we will grow up in a safe place and have the opportunity to study well. In the past, we slept on the floor without beds and used the classroom as a hostel. However, we now have a comfortable environment to live and study at night. We are truly thankful for this project.‘

Aisha, 18 year-old student from Qash Secondary School

‘With the construction of this girls’ dormitory students will now feel safer. I sincerely thank everyone involved, including So They Can, the Qash community, and the Government, for their significant contributions.This will make a huge difference in their education and overall well-being.

Ezekiel Kabogo, Headmaster of Qash Secondary School