How school for orphans became
Laikipia’s best
Adopted from the People’s Daily News Paper 27th March
2014
By JAMES MURIMI
When Education Cabinet Secretary
Jacob Kaimenyi announced the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)
2013 examination results, nobody imagined that a humble school located in the
interior part of Laikipia County could do well. Against all odds, students of
Thoome Boys’ Secondary School who come from vulnerable backgrounds broke a
record by clinching the top position in the district schools category in the
county.
The school had a mean grade of B
plain (9.41 points) and out of the 22 students who sat for the national
examination, only one did not attain minimum university qualifications. The
school had one A plain, four A-, six B+, seven B plain, one B-, two C+ and one
C plain. The students, most of whom are orphans, normally wake up at 4.30am
every day, milk school cows, clean the compound and feed rabbits and manage a
chicken pen. After classes they split firewood and manage a green- house.
When we visited the school recently,
we observed that the boarding institution does not have a proper dormitory
facility; an incomplete laboratory and a library structure have been converted
into dormitories. The students also cover three kilometres to and from the
seasonal Narumoru River where they fetch water for consumption at the school.
The Ministry of Water conducted a hydrological survey on the 4.5 acre school
compound but no bore hole has been done so far.
If they fall sick, students have to
walk about 6km to and from the nearby Tigithi Health Centre for medical
attention. Started four years ago, the school did not have any utensils and the
cook, Alex Ngunjiri, donated utensils to help prepare meals for the students.
“Uncle Alex”, as he is known to the students, has over the years been
encouraging them to persevere by ignoring lack of luxuries such as tea with
sugar.
Principal Samuel Wahome Mweri says
that when he was posted to the school in 2011, there were only two teachers;
himself and his deputy, Stephen Mwangi Mureithi. Former Laikipia East Member of
Parliament Mwangi Kiunjuri, helped in sponsoring some of the pupils. At first
they used pressure lamps at night, which used to break, forcing the students to
use torches to study. “Our school did not have electricity connectivity but
nevertheless, my students did not waste time as they remained focused and understanding
throughout,” says Wahome.
“Kiunjuri gave us Sh105,000 from the
Constituency Development Fund kitty for the electricity connection,” he adds.
The school made big strides after purchasing a computer, printer and a
photocopier. Teachers and learning materials are hired from the nearby Tigithi
Secondary School. “But we don’t have any laboratory and my students walk for
2.5km to Tigithi Secondary School where we use their laboratory facilities for
practical lessons over the weekends.
We also depend on the school for
library services until our new structures are complete,” says Wahome.
Construction of a twin laboratory and library rooms is underway, with support
of Sh3 million from the CDF kitty under current MP, Mutahi Kimaru. The MP also
donated Sh550,000 cheque to the school to equip science laboratories and
libraries. Area District Education Officer Ali Sheikh has also helped the
school to get relief food from the District Commissioner’s office and grants of
laboratory equipment from the Ministry of Education have been received.
“We also conduct practical lessons
in some of the classrooms as we wait for the completion of the new
laboratories,” says the principal. The school admits students from every ward
in Laikipia County who are vetted at the grassroots to ensure that they are
from needy families. The vetting team comprises Members of County Assembly,
religious leaders, chiefs and village elders who write a report and submit it
to the principal.
Thoome is a cosmopolitan institution
comprising students from all ethnic groups in the country. The Ol Pejeta
Conservancy, one of their major sponsors, has constructed a zero-grazing unit
in the compound. The conservancy has also supplied two dairy cows, installed a
biogas system and sponsored eight students.
EDITED BY MOSES NJOROGE
