Dear Friends and well-wishers of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee Comprehensive School -Kenya
Unlike the last four year that I visited Kenya twice each year, in 2024, I visited once between October and November. Traveling to my hometown from the airport is 80 miles of reasonably good road. It was somehow dry all over, but there were indications that people had good harvest and the livestock’s look healthy.
After waiting for three days in my place before visiting the school children which I usually do to take care after mixing with people in the airports and aircraft I visited the school. Having not visited for a year, I was looking forward to meeting new students who enrolled in January this year joining separate grades. And for the first time since the School was started in 2009, this year we enrolled grade one children who are day schooling.
VISITING THE SCHOOL PICTURES
The school year was coming to an end and most of the students had to go home leaving six graders taking transitional exam to middle school next year. Generally, as reports and records indicated learning other school activities have been going on well for the year2024 and mainly the busy third trimester that ends this November with examinations.
LEARNING AND OTHER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
As I have regularly mentioned in the past, our enrollment went down following COVI-19 years and mainly due to economic challenges that families continue to encounter, making some of them opt for free education in public school that get aid from the government and no school fees is paid by parents.
When enrollment gets low the revenue from school fees gets less but most of the expenses budget lines do not change. We need the same number of teachers for example and electricity use does not change and cost of essential commodities keeps increasing. In 2023 and 2024 I had to ask for backing from “Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School Charity” BOD members to step in twice at the end of separate trimesters and help in paying salaries for teachers and staff. It is our hope that enrollment will improve in the coming years.
We are still implementing the new curriculum in Kenya and in 2025 we shall have grade 9 in Junior High which will be our final after which learners will transfer to other schools for Senior High School studies.
My October visit aims at being in Kenya two weeks before students take their internal examination at the end of October. Children not taking transitional exams from grade 6 to Junior High the following year leave for the long break of two months but the candidates grade 6 stay for the three days exams. The last weekend of the school year we all have liturgy together.
PRAYERS WITH THE STUDENTS
I had a chance to meet some parents who came to pick their children for home, and I was good to hear from them regarding their children in our school. Parents are happy that they are able to have their children in Father Ntaiyia school despite the economic hardship being experienced. They are happy with the infrastructure, furnishing and learning environment. During the grade six public examination for promotion to grade 7 (junior High School), at the request of County Education office we had candidates from two neighboring schools coming to take their exams in our school together with our students because we have better facilities.
GRADE 6 2024
After the children left for the holidays the school compound was empty and was like a ghost town for me. I miss the children and the school community. I had, however, to start working on some projects, repairs, and maintenance that I usually see to, when the children are not in school. Meanwhile I visited a family of my uncle who lost his son to diabetes last June. Some family members also visited me with children and their two sons whom I brought to the boys school years back and are now police officers brought me a goat as a thank you.
FAMILY PICTURES
One week before I left for this trip, the BOD of the Father Ntaiyia Jubilee Comprehensive School Charity had approved and allowed funds for extension of Solar power for lighting the students dining hall which serves as a social hall for them as well and where they hold liturgical celebrations. Solar lighting was also extended to four Dormitories and matrons house. Electricity grid in Kenya can be off for hours or even days. This sometimes makes us use a generator which at times is not possible when there is no diesel in the town. So, teachers have to help children get to their beds using sport lights.
EXTENSION SOLAR POWER
This time we also placed TILES IN THE STUDENTS’ DINING ROOM replacing cement floor that needed replacement each three years. Tiles are easier to clean and will last for a long time.
I had also to order TEXTBOOKS FOR GRADE 9 for next year that are taken care by BOD- Charity.
I had also asked to purchase POWER SAW for cutting firewood among other works in the school.
I also had to work on the BASE FOR THE NATIONAL FLAGPOLE in all Kenya school National Flag must be raised on Mondays, Fridays, and National Holidays if students are in School while students and staff assemble before it. Our base has been too near the entrance to the administrative offices and was not done well so I supervised for a better one. There were other ground maintenance works that had to be completed after I left.
I am pleased to say we are looking forward to 2025 school year with hope that things will improve with enrollment as we usher in grade 9 class that will the final in our Junior High School.
Thank you again to Friends of the School and well-wishers for your recent gift.
With renewed best wishes.
Yours sincerely
Fr. Symon Peter Ntaiyia
https://mhl.hxi.mybluehost.me/website_e30e867a attached to website is a School Facebook and both have many pictures and information.