St Joseph’s School Githunguri set for Sh135m facelift

Mr Wachira Miano, the principal of St Joseph's High School, Githunguri in Kiambu in his office. PHOTO | ERICK WAINAINA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Mburu says they estimated that the school will have a capacity of at least 1,500 in the next five years.

  • The projects, according to Mr Mburu, are expected to cost Sh105 million, adding that they are tailored towards improving on the performances.

  • On June 2, the school has also organised a charity walk which will be led by the students, teachers, parents. It is expected to attract old boys as well as well-wishers.

A steady increase in the number of students joining St Joseph’s High School Githunguri has seen the institution grapple with inadequate facilities.

The institution is operating with structures most of which were built over 40 years ago, and whose capacity targeted low number of students. The latest classrooms were constructed in 2008.

To alleviate the situation, the management has planned a major facelift of the school infrastructure in an ambitious Sh135 million programme.

Though the school has in the recent past been undertaking development projects to improve on the infrastructure, the Board of Management insists that more is needed to boost the quality of education.

The plan, according to the board chairman Martin Mburu, will be implemented in the order of priority depending of the availability of resources.

STOREY TUITION BLOCK

It includes increasing the capacity as far as the classroom is concerned. Mr Mburu says they estimated that the school will have a capacity of at least 1,500 in the next five years.

This will see it put up a state-of-the-art storey tuition block, which will not only host extra 12 classrooms but also the administration block.

Expansion of the boarding facility is also part of the plan, and with this, the management said it intends to construct a storey dormitory that will accommodate more than 400 students as well as an ablution block. 

Further, the plan includes construction of houses to accommodate all the 45 teachers within the school, and this, according to the principal Mr Wachira Miano, will enhance the teacher-student contact time and in the end improve of the performance.

SH105 MILLION

“Currently, more than half of our teachers live outside the school because we do not have adequate housing to accommodate them. If all of them live within the school, it will enhance the teacher-student contact hour since they (teachers) will always be within the same vicinity with their students,” Mr Wachira said.

The projects, according to Mr Mburu, are expected to cost Sh105 million, adding that they are tailored towards improving on the performances.

“The aim is to have an environment and facilities that will improve learning and move the school to top 10 positions in the county and among the top performers nationally. But we are exploring ways to make the school self-sufficient financially by improving the existing dairy and pig farming projects so that we can end the culture of fundraising,” Mr Mburu said.  

To strengthen the institution’s spiritual foundation, the school, Mr Mburu said, is also planning to put up a Sh30 million state-of-the-art chapel, which will not only serve the school, but also the local community.

RAISING FUNDS

And with the resources being scant, the board has lined up a series of activities geared towards raising funds, with the climax being a mega fundraiser which will be held June 22, the same day the institution will be celebrating its diamond jubilee. The activities, which will also be used to create positive awareness about the school, include a golf tournament which will be held this coming Friday, May 25, at Thika Sports Club.

Mr Mburu said the tournament dubbed St Joseph’s Githunguri 60th anniversary charity golf, and whose theme is teeing off for the future of kyhill (a corrupted Kikuyu name for boy child), will bring together golf enthusiasts, old boys, the business community and the church.

“The reason why we are saying that we are teeing off the future of kyhill (boy child) is because we are planning to raise money to put up infrastructure that will ensure the boy child will have a place and have up-to-date learning facilities to enable him mould his future,” said Mr Mburu.

CHARITY WORK

On June 2, the school has also organised a charity walk which will be led by the students, teachers, parents. It is expected to attract old boys as well as well-wishers.

But the activity which Mr Mburu said is expected to play a key part in making their dream come true, is the 60th year celebrations which will take place on June 22 at the school.

The anniversary will start with a mass that will be celebrated by the head of the Catholic Church Cardinal John Njue, the main sponsor of the school, followed by a fundraiser where Deputy President William Ruto will be the chief guest, assisted by Githunguri lawmaker Kago wa Lydia, who is also an alumni.

“It’s a day that we will also see the old boys, leaders and friends of the school join in chasing our vision. We have had a very good collaboration will the alumni, but we are hoping to see it bigger and greater on that day,” Mr Mburu said.

The county government of Kiambu, through Governor Ferdinand Waititu, has also pledge support towards helping the school realise it dreams.