Contents of Oban High School going to Somalia

HUNDREDS of chairs and tables from the former Oban High School building will be sent to schools in Somalia.

A total of 500 chairs and 300 tables, as well as textbooks, will be shipped to Mogadishu, in partnership with a charity called ZOOT.

The Bristol-based charity is sending a 40ft container to Oban on Thursday April 12 to collect the equipment.

Terry Donovan, secretary of Oban High School Parent Council, which organised the donation, said: ‘We think it’s great. We are trying to reuse as much as the furniture as possible.

‘We are really pleased and we have had a great response and a lot of support from the school.

‘A group of us on the parent council offered to help with re-using the furniture and I found this charity online that sends equipment to various countries, so when I contacted them, they were really keen to use some of the furniture.’

Speaking about surplus equipment, Terry added: ‘A lot of it is being re-used. Primary schools have been going in, as well as community groups and some village halls.

‘So it’s being used in other places around Argyll, but with the volume of tables and chairs which were not needed in the area, we were able to send them elsewhere.’

A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said: ‘Pupils can look forward to new, high quality equipment and furniture, as well as a state-of-the-art building when they move into their new Oban High School.

‘The contents of the current school, which are not required, will be put to good use, and have been offered to other schools and community groups. In addition, the Oban High School Parent Council has made arrangements for tables and chairs to be donated to a charity in Somalia.

‘Demolition of the old school will start shortly after pupils have moved into their new school.’

Discussing the shipment of equipment, Terry added: ‘We are very excited that these items will be reused in Somali schools.

‘Somalia has one of the world’s lowest enrolment rates for primary school aged children – only 30 per cent of children are in school and only 40 per cent of these are girls. Further, only 18 per cent of children in rural households are in school.’

Oban High School Parent Council is looking for volunteers who could help load the container from 9am on April 12.

To get involved or to find out more, email terry@backwoodsman-stoves.co.uk