HABARI NEWS: NOVEMBER 2017

My visit to Kenya this year was between October 15^th, returning November 27^th. I am still claiming the days of my holidays for when I was called back from Rome in 2014. Hopefully I will still have ten more days in 2018. Kenya has been a tense country because of nullified presidential elections in August and campaigns for the repeat election with a lot of uncertainty created by the opposition. Because of this, business as usual in Kenya had been affected from August and had not returned to normal. Learning in schools was also affected as trimesters had to be shortened meaning students went home early to allow for the elections to take place and in fear that some clashes could occur and find students in schools. Like every year I had very warm welcome by students and staff in the school.

MEETING THE STUDENTS

As in the past they already knew I was coming and the little ones or new students whom I have not seen were eager to see me as I was as well looking forward to meeting them. After a cheering welcome by children I took some time with them in the dining area and after about 40 minutes I went greeting the staff and other members of the school community. The next two days I felt I needed to rest from the long flights and long layover, but this was not to be, for I felt I should go to school each day and be with the children. This time students were busy taking their end of year examinations because they had to leave on Oct. 24, two days before the repeat presidential election. The teachers graded the exams and were ready in time. The morning of Oct. 24, parents started coming to take the children early in the morning. The last student was taken at about 2 PM. I had the opportunity of saying hello to most of the parents as they picked up their children on this day.

Those preparing for the public examinations this year had to be in school for two weeks after the others left before they also leave Father Ntaiyia School for good after their public examination. We had Mass for our graduating class (often I use our final class) with the rest of the school before they left; it was emotional for all of us because after Mass the students gave short speeches and songs for their departure after being in this school for six years. This is the occasion when I wish to remember all the friends who have walked with us in the journey of establishing this school and I will never cease to say thank you on behalf of my people. There is indescribable joy in visiting Father Ntaiyia School again this year.

PUBLIC EXAMINATION:

After the continuing students left for their long break it was clear that the candidates were in examination disposition. Teachers kept them busy in what needed to be done and samples of past examinations. I also had time with them twice each week, I generally encouraged them to face the future after their studies in my school. Most of the time they had questions about America. My instruction to them on their examination was to read and understand the questions, to write with clear and neat readable hand writing. When the examination days arrived they were conducted well by officers appointed by the Ministry of Education and a security officer who came to school before 8 AM after picking the examinations papers from the custody where heads of all schools had to go as early as 4 AM. The last paper was done at about 12 Noon on the last day of Exams. We shared a farewell lunch party with the students. They then had time to return all school books and other items that were in their hands and those who could, left that afternoon while the others waited for their parents the following day.

EXAMINATION RESULTS:

This year the examination results were out in three weeks, the fastest ever in Kenya and this is because most of the papers were for the first time being marked by electronic machines. When it was announced they were out, we all got eager to know how our students may have done. Although there is possibility for each candidate getting their results online, it was almost impossible to get on, maybe because every family with a candidate was trying to get online. The following day we were able to get online and to download our students’ results. This year we had 62 candidates but three of our students did not make the passing grade. The rest made it and we can feel a good job was done. The three who did not make it can still go to private high schools if parents want them to. This was our largest class in our five years of examination. We always had less than 32 candidates. My expectation thought was a little higher than our score that did not go above 80% for any of our students.

MAINTENANCE WORK IN THE SCHOOL:

Most of the school buildings are ten years old now and there are indications that there will occasionally be repairs. Before I left the US, I had asked our school and a mason who works for me in Kenya and school’s maintenance team to inspect the buildings and see what needed repair. Swahili people have a saying, “ Usipo ziba ufa utajenga Ukuta,” that is if you do not fill up a crack, you will have to build a wall. In other words it means, “A stich in time saves nine.” Occasionally there will be repairs and maintenance of School buildings and furniture.

I had discussed with Friends of Father Ntaiyia Charity – BOD that there may be repair work when I visit the school and that I was going to let them know what repairs need to be done in the school while I was visiting Kenya.

I started working without delay on my arrival to save time. I called two masons who worked for me before and they were available. We also got people for casual labor plus our maintenance people.

Our new offices started being used for the first time last January and they are using the furniture that was in the improvised class room office. Gradually we shall need in the future more equipment for offices. The first thing I had to start working on are the administration building convenience rest rooms that were bringing in bad odor in the corridors and my quick reaction was to move the restrooms though still inside the building. The way I worked it out after consulting with the architect is to move the restrooms under the base of the library emergency stairs that are behind the building. This will still have a door to them from inside the building. The original restrooms have been converted into a small kitchenette.
We chipped off the floor of the boys’ dormitory and one of the classrooms and the new floor was done and other minor repairs on building entrances and walls that needed repairs. There are also potholes in some buildings that we repaired.
The floor at the entrance of students’ kitchen and dining room needed replacing too and this was done, and the walls plastered (were not plastered before) and will be painted. This is where students pass daily three times to be served meals.
I saw the need to paint the walls of the corridors of the administration block and staff room with a lighter color (a light brown color) about a third height from the floor because of children holding on it as they walk in the building and repainting some inside office wall.
The Sister in charge of the students’ kitchen had informed me that there was a need to have a deep freezer. I purchased one of about 45 gallons and I left it working very well.
In the Sisters’ house they asked to move their chapel to another room in the same building and because of this we had to do some work of placing a sink in the room that was a chapel for the sister who will move in there.
Students’ stoves needed repair and replacing of chimneys; we called the company that installed them, and they have been done ready for next year.

2017 has been an expensive year in the school budget mainly because there was a prolonged drought and as a result prices of many staple commodities we use in school went up while at the same time the parents were not able to pay school fees in time or only could pay part of it. It was also an election year in Kenya and this added to the same because of uncertainty of stability. Learning was also disrupted because of the election and the children had to go home twice earlier than usual.

I wish to thank all friends of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee Primary School for your gifts especially at the end of the year (Christmas) that help us to go through such a tough year without increasing school fees.

School website: https://mhl.hxi.mybluehost.me/website_e30e867a

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Fr. Symon Ntaiyia