Support Quality Schooling of 250 Kids in Nguluni

Dear friends,

Time flies when you’re having fun! It's about time we got some updates too!

In Mid-February 2023 the school enrolment was 93 with 45 boys (48%) and 48 girls (52%), a capacity of (49%). It is September and the total school enrollment stands at 128 a 37% increase from 93, thanks to an outreach program we carried out into the community around the school in March and August. This means that the school is now We started the year with such high growth expectations and with the hopes of achieving progress in six main areas. Five of these areas revolved around transitioning the school program into providing Junior Secondary education in line with the ongoing reforms. We have a Grade 7 classroom. We utilized the library space to start as we worked on a capital campaign to build three new classrooms separate from the current campus to house the Junior Secondary School. The decision to continue in this direction was so we could offer seamless education and maximize the impact we are having on our students, something that we couldn’t do if we let our learners to transition into other schools.

The new reforms came with a raft of new requirements that demanded re-registration of the school to ensure we meet the required quality standards. We thus invested in setting up a small science space to facilitate experiments, leased a plot of land to ensure we provide garden space for agriculture learning and built new sanitation facilities. We also acquired textbooks in line with the new curriculum and hired new teachers. We also created an enclosed small playing area for pre-school learners.

To improve early literacy instruction we are investing in a $650 literacy Fast Track Phonics program as well as continuing investments in a school-wide reading program.

We continue providing holistic programs for the children including chess, soccer, and performing and creative arts so all our learners can have the ability to nurture their potential. In terms of improving efficiency, the school is investing in a school management system to manage school operations.

Education has to be accessible to children and one way we are providing accessibility is through our At-Cost School Transport Services to parents who want to access quality affordable education in our school but are living far from the school. This service is designed to provide transportation as an enabler for parents to bring their children to school. So far 36 learners (28% of the school population) are using the transport services. Our goal is to invest in partnerships with transport providers to offer the services. An alternative approach is to purchase a van so the school can manage the services in-house. This service has helped with a rise in enrolment. We look forward to partnering with you to support this program since it ensures access to quality education for many parents. This is because it gives the possibilities of choice, and assures parents of their children’s safety. These have been possible because of the foundations you as partners have provided and of the continued support we continue to receive from you.

 So what’s happening for the rest of the year? We are working on the capital campaign proposal and will be letting you know how to participate. Our learners in Grade 3, Grade 6, and Class 8 are doing their summative assessments. The Class 8 Kenya Primary School Exam will mark the end of primary education as they transition into High School. For us it will mark the end of offering the old 8-4-4 system of education as we fully transition into Competency-Based Education, which requires a lot of learning material support, to make education both equitable and accessible for our learners. The preschool class will also hold a transitional Graduation Day in October to celebrate achieving their milestones. We look forward to partnering in these areas in the coming days.

Let us continue laboring together in this and it’s our hope that we will all have a whale of a time as we make a difference in the lives of these children- our hope for a better tomorrow.