An investment by Barrick North Mara Mine in education infrastructure is set to ease the burden on pupils who have been travelling long distances to access primary education, following the construction of a new school in Kerende Village, Tarime District.
The education facility, named Mgosi Primary School, was constructed under the mine’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy and regulations programme and is expected to benefit hundreds of pupils from communities within Kerende Village, located in Kemambo Ward.
The project forms part of Barrick Mining Corporation’s continued investment in development initiatives benefiting communities surrounding the North Mara Mine through CSR funding.
Kerende Village comprises 10 hamlets, with pupils from Mgosi, Isakahembe and Nyanyoka expected to be among the main beneficiaries of the new school.
The facility will become the fourth government primary school in the village, which has a population of more than 8,000 people.
The school was named after Mount Mgosi, one of the area’s local attractions.
Construction began in June 2025, and the contractor handed over the facility to the village government in January 2026. Preparations for its official opening are in the final stages, with the school expected to receive hundreds of pupils, including those to be transferred from other schools in the village.
Kerende Village Government Chairperson Mr Marwa Gabogwe said the project would improve access to primary education and create opportunities for more children to enrol in school.
He said the facility would also reduce the challenges faced by pupils who previously had to travel long distances to attend schools in neighbouring villages.
The other government primary schools in Kerende Village are Kerende, Ngeng’e and Ntimaro.
More than Tsh 300 million was invested in the project, which involved acquiring a 10-acre site and constructing six classrooms, a teachers’ office, toilet facilities for teachers and pupils, and a football pitch.
The project also provided desks for 125 pupils. The desks have been completed and are awaiting the school’s official opening.
Residents have welcomed the investment, expressing appreciation to Barrick North Mara for supporting the construction through its CSR policy and regulations programme.
The North Mara Mine is operated by Barrick in partnership with the Government of Tanzania through Twiga Minerals.
“This project was a major need because our village has 10 hamlets and a large number of pupils. It will therefore be of great benefit to our children,” said Mr Mussa Magaigwa, a resident and member of the Kerende Village Government.
Kemambo Ward Councillor Mr Rashid Bogomba said the construction of Mgosi Primary School was among the development projects supported by Barrick North Mara under its CSR policy and guidelines.
“The work is progressing well. CSR funding has enabled the construction of the new Mgosi Primary School, and all the buildings have been completed. This is significant progress,” said Bogomba, who also chairs the Community Development Committee (CDC) at the mine.
Statistics indicate that since 2019, when Barrick began operating in Tanzania in partnership with the government through Twiga Minerals, North Mara Gold Mine has spent 26.86 billion/- implementing 255 CSR projects in Tarime District Council.
The projects cover key development sectors, including education, healthcare, roads, water supply, economic development and environmental conservation.
Through these investments, Barrick North Mara continues to support initiatives aimed at among other things improving social services, strengthening infrastructure and promoting economic opportunities for communities surrounding the mine.