It is two months since I returned to the US after my last visit to Kenya. I had left for this visit a week earlier than I had expected because there came a necessity that needed my attention and presence with regards to the ongoing construction of Library cum Administration building.
The school was still excited about the success of our examination candidates last year and the arrival of the new students who joined the school this year. Some people have wanted to know what happens with the children after they graduate from Father Symon Jubilee School or Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School as it is known in Kenya. After the public examinations that are done by 8th Graders the parents take charge of their own children to make sure that they go to High Schools that have invited them or look for alternative High Schools (private) for their children to further their education. The school administration can only give a letter of recommendation for a student who is looking for a place in High School (Secondary School); the parents are responsible to follow up if their child has acquired a place by merits of points.
General assessment and analysis this year again indicates that there was improvement in points with last year’s examinations in the school. In comparison with some schools where some children came from, those who transferred to us did better than those who were left in their former school and we had about three cases of children who were moved from Jubilee school to other schools in the same grade. Those who were left in and were not as good as those who left did better.
My own general evaluation is that given the facilities we have, that allows children more time for studies. Unlike those who walk to school every day under any weather without much food and without enough books as we have, the students in Jubilee School should do much better. I however, had a discussion with the teaching staff during my visit and we agreed that they need to make a study of this situation and find out how we can improve.
MORE STUDENTS As usual in the beginning of the school year we get new pupils and this year we got more in upper grades because I want to make use of the room we have in the dormitories. We have a total of 274; a few more pupils came in since the last blog entry which recorded 268 pupils, a number I had given when I was in Kenya in February. The large number is not by any mistake, it is well calculated. I asked the Head teacher to fill the beds that were still empty in the Dormitories and this has made the school have a double class meaning we have two grade five class rooms.
The new students face challenges in some areas of their new life in a new school away from home, but we can be proud of school community that over the last few years has understood and easily helps the new students move forward to face these challenges. There are some children who come from schools that do not prepare them well for their next school year. Some schools or teachers mostly in public schools are not following and covering syllabus and teachers in Jubilee School find this out quickly through homework or class tests.
I must say that social life in the school is very adoptable because I made this very clear from the beginning that there is not bullying of new children so the newcomers make new friends and feel that they are in their school where they are entitled to what every student is allowed. One of the new experiences for new students is when they realize that they must be held accountable to doing their things and are not able to turn to parents to fend for them. The teachers and the matron initially pay attention to this and older students are a great source of support on this.
NEW STAFF I had to recruit and employ more teachers bringing the number to 9 including Sister Pauline who is heading the school. For non-teaching staff I employed a second cook and this has improved things under the leadership of Sister Emmy who is not responsible for domestic chores.
The first trimester of 2014 ends this week and the children have done their end of term examinations. There has been a lot of effort especially in bringing the new children to what the teachers may judge to be standard academic level for all the new and the old pupils in the school. This helps the teachers know that the lessons they give are understood by all. Some transfer students mostly are behind the syllabus. It is also not easy for new children becoming used to a different institution and for many being in boarding school for the first time. I was pleased to see how quickly they get used to the school and other students. The Schools in Kenya closed for Easter break on April 11 and I was informed that the trimester ended well and all the children left safely. I am sure the new students have loads of stories to tell to their parents, siblings and neighbors at home.
I also had to buy new text books for practically all the subjects and for all the classes. Prices of items especially Text books and food have been going up each year. Teaching and the related materials became very expensive after Kenya started giving free education in public Schools because the manufacturers and printers are paid with money coming from donors for free education and not from the Kenyan government budget or parents. Therefore they sell their items at undisputed or bargained prices. Private schools like Fr. Symon School for Nomads do not have the benefit of donations for free education and so have to budget all expenses with the fees they charge the students. Care is taken to cover the books and teachers help the children to learn how to take good care of the books as well.
The extracurricular for during the first trimester of the year in Kenya is ball game, and the children are trained in Football (soccer), Volley Ball and Hand ball for girls. Schools compete with their neighboring School and the best players form a team at the next level until there is a strong District team.
MEETING: It was a pleasure to meet with Mr. Heini, Sylvia and Ludwig who were passing by Narok. Doctor Maria Schiestl also from Austria whom they were visiting brought them to visit the School. I had the opportunity to show Heini the ongoing construction of the Library cum Administration building that I started with Funds from Heini for Africa left over after our rain water harvest project. I was also able to meet a few former students who are now in their second year in High School as they were home for their half-term break. It was like they were gone for ages, and each was ready to share on how things are going and were happy to be going on with studies. As the wise said long ago, “Mountains do not meet but people meet.”
Fr. Symon Ntaiyia