Elementary School
Elementary School
The successful preschools helped enable more students to enroll in the three local elementary schools managed by the government. In order to attend school on a regular basis, students needed the option to board at school since their nomadic families would often be far away from the location of the government schools. There were no dormitories, the school buildings were falling down and the students lacked even the most basic essential supplies.
we took on the challenge of improving INFRASTRUCTURE + THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION
improving infrastructure
improving infrastructure
Generous supporters helped us renovate existing dilapidated classrooms and build new ones so that there would be at least one classroom for every grade. Each year we added new desks and at the beginning of the school year we supplied every student with a brand new school uniform.
We needed dormitories to house all the children coming in from the nomadic preschools as well as the influx of older students whose parents were becoming more enamored with the opportunity of a formal education for their youth. Ten generous supporters donated the funds needed to construct ten dormitories with shower blocks, toilets, and solar lighting. We outfitted each dorm with new bunk beds, mattresses, sheets and mosquito nets.
At Ndoyno Wasin, students had been walking four kilometers a day to fetch water from an open well in a dry river bed that was polluted by animals at night. The first solution was to put in a new solar powered well for clean running water. After the well dried out, in 2019 we financed the construction of a water line from a mountain spring 10 miles away. In 2021 in cooperation with the Samburu Project we brought clean water to the Lerata elementary school, from a 4 km distant borehole equipped with the solar powered pump. We built a new kitchen to prepare meals for the growing student population.
improving the quality of education
improving the quality of education
In rural Kenya, the government provides less than 45% of what is needed to run a basic school capable of delivering adequate academic standards.
Sponsoring a entire class of 30 to 40 students costs $9,000 per year. To sponsor a class of students, please contact info@thorntreeproject.org
THE "SIXTY BY FIVE" (60 X5) PROGRAM
Our goal is to improve the quality of education so that every student in every class achieves 60% or more in all 5 subjects
When we first began working with the Samburu community, the Ndonyo Wasin elementary school received only 30% of the funding needed to function at a basic academic level. In that situation, three government teachers were responsible for teaching eight classes of students, one textbook was shared among four students, and students received one small meal for lunch from the government. Unsurprisingly, academic achievement and students KCPE test scores at Ndonyo Wasin elementary school were well below the national average.
In 2008, we implemented programs to help mitigate the funding disparity and to create opportunities for significant improvements in our student’s grades and academic performance.
We hired additional teachers, purchased more textbooks, provided students with breakfast and dinner, seven days a week. We had an agreement with teachers and parents that these resources were conditional on the schools greatly reducing teacher and student absenteeism and completing the syllabus by the end of the second term. We increased student access to teachers by adding extra teaching time at the end of the day.
We built a new library at each school and stocked the shelves with more than 2,000 books written in English and Swahili. An English language teacher is in charge of the library. Our goal is to ensure that every student is fluent in English, as it is the official language mandated for use in school text books and for the national exams in Kenya. Each student has one hour of guided reading in the library every afternoon.
Our sponsored schools
Ndonyo Wasin Elementary School
Opened in 1969 with just six classrooms. In 2002 only 34 students were enrolled. Attendance is now at 356 .
Sereolipi Elementary School
Opened in 1970 with only three classrooms. Five additional classrooms had been built by the end of 1980. In 2002 enrollment records showed 96 students. Currently, 627 students are enrolled.
Lerata Elementary School
In 2007 the community from Lerata asked us to help them with their elementary school. It currently has 216 students. This collaboration completed our coverage of North East Samburu.
