The 2023 school year in Kenya started in January resuming the normal school year calendar after the three years of on and off School interruptions by COVID-19.
Our second trimester began on 8th May 2023. It was the longest term in the academic year with fourteen weeks. Being the longest trimester, it was also the busiest in academic activities and co-curriculum activities. Our blog letter comes three weeks before the end of the school year.
THE SCHOOL POPULATION
Fr. Ntaiyia Jubilee primary school comprises of six classes/grades with the following number of learners.
| Grade/Class | Boarders | Day scholars | Total |
| Grade 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | 10 | 19 |
| Grade 5 | 16 | 11 | 27 |
| Grade 6 | 24 | 11 | 35 |
| Grade 7 | 26 | 9 | 35 |
| Class 8 | 35 | 7 | 42 |
| Total | 111 | 53 | 164 |
We had 71 girls and 93 boys, giving us a total of 164 learners in the school. The number of girls boarders is 64 and day scholars were 28.
The term began with 12 teachers, 5 females and 7 male teachers. Besides that, we had 9 support staff making a total of 21 employees who earn salary from the school. I wish to mention that grade seven is in the new curriculum (first class of Junior High) and class 8 is the last of the old curriculum which is facing out this year all over Kenya.
FATHER NTAIYIA- VISIT
Father writes “A month after they started the second trimester, I visited Kenya and the school the US and was with there for the full month of June 2023. My visit always brings a joyful atmosphere to the school community and to me as well. I practically go to school every day from my place about 4 miles away and I have an office in the school. I hold meetings with individuals who work in the school offices, the teachers, and other employees. In my office I inspect school records, registers and both logbooks that must be recorded each week by the teacher on duty and each week by the Headteacher. There are many pages to read in these books that must give me a picture of how things go in school. Other important attention includes, and projects funded by our BOD from our Friends of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee school 501 (c)3 funds that may have been going on before my visit. I also visit our County Education offices to make sure we are in good standing for what and that the required reports from the school get there in time. I meet with the students during their various activities, and some days join them when they have their tea or lunch.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
The Headteacher report indicated that since the trimester began, teachers were committed as usual to their work as soon as the allocation of courses was done for each of them to respective grades and classroom. Teachers were also taking extra time to work with slow learners especially. As in past years, attention is being paid to our final and last class of Public examinations. This will be the last class to take public examinations marking the end of the old curriculum. They will also be the last class to take secondary (High School) studies for 4 years in the old system which is taken away from Father Ntaiyia School. It was observed that learners were also showing interest in their learning by being punctual and attentive and participating well in learning activities. Learners efforts came out clearly when they did their end trimester examinations because there was improvement in the results of all grades.
We, however, experience absenteeism of some learners during the Trimester. This occurred mostly when some learners had to be sent home to go and ask parents to bring school fees. The economic hardships are felt at homes as well and this would have learners wait for some days before the parents can get a fraction of the fees needed.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — JUNIOR SECONDARY
2023 school year ushered the first class of Junior School following six years of preparation of New curriculum (CBC). Junior School will be grades 7,8 and 9 and will be hosted in elementary schools as directed by the Ministry of Education in Kenya. The pioneer class of the CBC (new curriculum) joined Junior School this year as the first cohort of the new system. In the same year, learners sitting the last (KCPE) end of elementary school public exam, currently in class (grade) 8, will transit high school old system in High School.
In this first class of Junior school, we have 35 learners who have already settled well, and their courses are being taught reasonably in spite of many uncertainties in the last two years about this new system.
We are thankful once again to our benefactors who donated to “Friends of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee school charity” making it possible for its BOD members to funds enough textbooks in all subjects (courses) making us better than many school. The learners in this class have enough materials for learning including a single desk and a chair for each student funded by the same charity. The Junior school uniform made our learners noticeable and together with their parents they thanked Father Symon who bought each of them a pair of school shoes as a gesture of welcome to the first class of Junior school in our school.
Further, BOD members make funds available for small projects, textbooks for other, repairs and lately the charity finance placing tiles in all our eight classrooms and purchasing 105 individual desks and chair in readiness for the Junior School grades 7, 8 and 9 who according to the new education system in Kenya will be hosted in the elementary schools. Equipping Junior School with what is being required now is going to be very expensive, especially for private schools because they do not get any government financials assistance.
CLASS EIGHT This year we have 42 pupils in this class who are the last candidates for the old system of education. They will take their public examination at the end of October 2023 ending the old curriculum in the whole Country. As in any other year the teachers are doing their best to prepare these candidates for this exam that will determine their future education after their six years of learning in Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School.
FISCAL CHALLENGES
The country has and especially our area has been experiencing a devastating spell of drought, which had been on and off for six seasons, leaving behind a trail of famine, undernourishment, loss of crops and livestock, disrupted livelihoods, increased poverty, and weakened many families that rely on simple farming.
Like any other institution we have experienced a great challenge in terms of economics that is brought by the high cost of living. The cost of food and essential commodities has increased each year for the last three years as compared to previous years. The abrupt change in climate in the school locality has experienced severe drought; this affected the parents since most of them are pastoralists. This interfered with the economic activities and the parents were unable to pay school fees even as we attempted to increase school fees.
I will be visiting Kenya during at the end of October through November, I will have time to access the school activities during the first year of new curriculum. I will also be with out last public examinations candidates as we close that old system in our school as well.
To all Friends of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School THANK YOU for walking with us especially during these difficult economic times
I will be sharing more news on development and small projects soon on the website with pictures soon.
Thank you for joining us in educating young people in Kenya.
Fr. Symon