Planning a school building in Kenya
Classroom sizes, safety rules, exits, building around the school calendar and finishes that last: a guide for school owners and boards.
By Redbay Group ·
Safety comes first
The Ministry of Education's Safety Standards Manual for Schools sets out what school buildings should provide. Your architect should design to it, and your contractor should build to it. Key points for classrooms include:
- Classrooms of about 7.5 m by 6 m
- No more than 40 learners with two-seater desks, or 30 with one-seater desks
- Doors that open outward and are never locked from outside while learners are inside
- Windows without grills that open easily
- Wide stairways at both ends of storey buildings, with strong handrails
- Serviced fire extinguishers in every block
Dormitories need extra care
The manual also covers dormitories: wide doors that open outward, exits at each end and in the middle, space between beds and clear corridors. These rules exist because of past tragedies, so treat them as the minimum.
Plan the whole site, not one block
Most schools grow over time. A master plan shows where future classrooms, labs, toilets, the kitchen, play areas and parking will go, so each new block fits. Courtyard layouts like the one at Merishaw keep learners within sight and give sheltered walkways between rooms.
Build around the school calendar
If the school is running, plan noisy and dangerous work for the holidays and fence the site off from learners. A clear programme agreed in advance avoids disrupting exams.
Finishes that survive school life
School buildings take hard use. Choose:
- Hard-wearing floors that are easy to clean
- Washable paint on lower walls and corridors
- Strong steel balustrades on corridors and stairs
- Enough toilets and handwashing points for the number of learners
- Water storage and good rainwater drainage
Approvals
School projects need county approval, NCA registration and often a NEMA licence. Start these early, because they can take longer than you expect.