Four decades on, school has never had class two

It’s over 40 years old, but it has never expanded beyond class one.

Olekimokotio Primary School, a kilometre away from Kilgoris town, is therefore, a case study in stunted growth.

But in it, Mukulelta villagers in Trans Mara West Sub County see another case study — the perfect example of a people neglected by their leaders. Ironically, the sorry structure serves as a polling station.

The school is run by two volunteer teachers. According to the Mukulelta community, it is a registered public primary school.

Ms Mary Kitiyia, who heads the school, says the lack of a Standard Two classroom automatically discourages pupils from going on with their learning.

She says other public schools are kilometres away from the village and most pupils give up on education to work.

“Most of these children are employed as herders in the neighbouring farms. Some hawk charcoal in Kilgoris,” says Ms Kitiyia.

The environment here is very different from that of the nearby Kishon Milimani School. Pupils in the private school enjoy all that is needed for proper learning.

They have good classrooms, a library, a laboratory, books and desks.

The school's director Simon Lepore is willing to share with the pupils of Olekimokotio Primary School some of the basic facilities. “It is sad when we see children across our field helpless. We are calling on leaders to step in,” he says.

You don’t see toilets at Olekimokotio primary, so you have to do with the bush. “Boys have their own bush while girls have theirs on the opposite end,” says Ms Kitiyia.

“Here, they relieve themselves. We teachers, we have to hold on till we get back into our homes in the afternoon.”

She explains that the school displays the look of an abandoned Maasai hut — enkaji. The mud and wattle structure is windowless and doorless and could crumble any time now.

Its iron-sheet roofing could get blown away any time for they are flimsily, anchored on mud walls.

“It is difficult for children to learn in this environment, but there is hope for a better future,” she says.

REGISTER SCHOOL

Ms Kitiyia, who joined the school in 2009, says it was started in 1974 and has never registered for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination.

Its second, Ms Margaret Parana is understandably unhappy. “As a professional Early Childhood teacher, it is not ethical for our children to learn in such a facility,” she says.

“At night, passers-by relieve themselves in classroom. In the morning, our first duty is to clean up the mess,” says Ms Parana.

According to a former pupil, Mr Mark Twala, the school has failed to develop because politicians have belittled the community around the school.

“We deserve better schools like any other part of the country,” he says.

Fortunately, a fortnight ago, the County Government of Narok, through governor Samuel Tunai gave out a bankers cheque of Sh700,000 to put up a modern classroom.

“We are grateful,” beams Mr Twala. Strangely, the Trans Mara Sub County Education officer, Mr Samuel Sankale, says the school is not registered and his ministry is not even aware of the its existence.

He says the community must first register the school before accusing the government of neglect.

“We cannot assist when the school is not even recognised by the Education Ministry,” he says.

The Mukulelta community is now appealing to the government to help put up more classrooms.

“We want to reduce school dropouts among our children. This school will definitely help retain our children in school,” says Pastor John Mataro.

He says the government should deploy teachers in the school and supply books and other facilities necessary for learning.