Parents and learners in Mwihoko, Ruiru, are all smiles after a new school opened its doors to pupils.
This comes as schools reopen for the first term of the 2021 education calendar.
Mutuya Primary School—built by the national government in collaboration with Ruiru NG-CDF—admitted its pioneer learners early this month and has already enrolled some 500 pupils.
The school was meant to decongest Mwihoko Primary School, the only public school in the entire ward. It is, therefore, a relief to hundreds of parents and their children who used to trek over eight kilometres to Mwihoko Primary.
Ruiru MP Simon King’ara on Monday said his office is lobbying for more funds to construct more classrooms with an aim of increasing the number of learners in the school to 1,500.
“The school had received over 1,000 applications from parents seeking slots for their children, but only 500 were enrolled because of the number of classrooms we have and the current Covid-19 situation.
"We will, however, ensure that more classrooms are built so that the school can comfortably accommodate more learners,” King’ara said.
Another primary school will open its doors to leaders on Monday next week in the Manguo area in Githurai 45. King’ara said Manguo Primary School, which is also expected to enrol the first batch of 500 pupils, will help decongest Mwiki and Kwa Ng’ethe primary schools.
He noted that schools in the area, especially Mwiki, are highly congested and are still grappling with the shortage of infrastructure.
The lawmaker pointed out that Mwiki Primary's land is less than an acre, yet it has 3,600 pupils and 72 teachers.
“Despite the huge number of learners, the school has 41 classrooms only and a total of 1,077 desks. The school is overstretched to a point where a single classroom accommodates 130 learners against the Ministry of Education guidelines of 40 pupils per classroom. This is the problem we want to end,” he said.
The government is also constructing two more primary schools in Mutonya and Gikumari in Gatong’ora ward.
“We currently have 13 projects in all primary schools within the constituency that entail rehabilitation and construction of more classrooms.
"So far, we have completed the construction of 60 classrooms in various schools. We are urging parents to take their children to these public schools,” the lawmaker said.
Parents expressed their delight, terming the new project godsends.
“Our children have been suffering because they have been trekking for a very long distance to Mwihoko Primary School. We could not raise the school fees asked by private schools in this area. This new school is for sure a godsend as it has ended our suffering,” Mary Mugo said.
Stephen Gikonyo said, “Our children will also have an environment conducive to learning and we are optimistic that even their academic performance will improve.”