Mukomari Primary School, Kenya: Half-Year School Operations Monitoring Report and Future Outlook
The Mukomari Project has become a leading intervention in the Mbakalo ward and is designated as a regional center of excellence. The school has transformed into a model institution and a community game-changer, with residents thrilled about their new school.
Thanks to improved infrastructure, students now learn in a clean environment.
- The spacious classrooms offer ample interactive space, enhancing the learning experience for both teachers and students.
- The project installed two 20,000-liter tanks, ensuring the school has easy access to clean water. Students no longer need to fetch water from the river as rainwater is harvested from the school roofs.
- A new school gate enhances student safety by controlling movements in and out of the premises.
Parents support the school and are committed to its sustainability. The project has alleviated the burden on families, who no longer need to fundraise for mud-walled classrooms. Located within walking distance, the school eliminates transport costs, assures children's safety, and delivers improved education quality.
FIRST HALF OF 2024: KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
Enrollment Rate Doubled: Enrollment has increased from 230 to 560 students
- Junior Secondary School Approval: The new buildings enabled the school to host Junior Secondary School, allowing grade six students to continue their education locally, easing the community's burden.
- Parental Confidence Restored: Parents who withdrew their children due to dilapidated classrooms have re-enrolled them. Confidence in the school's ability to serve children has improved, and parents feel more secure.
Increased Enrollment of Girls: Girls now make up 52% of the student body
- Improved Facilities: Dedicated modern toilet facilities for girls have provided a sense of safety and dignity, leading to a steady increase in their enrollment.
- Academic Achievement: Impressively, all four students who scored over 300 out of 500 on the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam were girls.
Improving School Performance: School performance is steadily improving
- Enhanced Learning Environment: Academic improvement has been observed due to an improved learning environment and better school infrastructure.
- Strong Student Performance: 80% of grade six students, who are in their final examination class this year (2024), are performing above average.
Teachers' Wellbeing:
- Improved Work Environment: Teachers take pride in the newly built school, now working in a clean environment that was previously dusty and stuffy. Regular student attendance makes it easier to track performance, and spacious classrooms offer ample room for interaction.
- Reduced Turnover: Looking ahead, teacher turnover is expected to decrease significantly. The school is well-positioned to attract and retain teachers permanently, ensuring continuity in learning.
The project is likely to attract more students, especially since the Junior Secondary School section started last year and is expected to grow. This expansion will likely bring increased government focus and engagement.
Development Plans:
- Physical Structures: The school needs a library, an administrative block, and a kitchen. Currently, teachers meet in an old classroom and need proper offices.
- Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE): The youngest learners still use mud-walled classrooms. The project partner plans to work with the county government to build ECDE classrooms and playrooms, and provide play and learning materials.
- Community Meeting Hall: The school needs a hall for parent-teacher and student meetings.
Visit Groundbreaker website for updates.
