How pupils weathered dilapidated facilities to excel in KCPE examination

One of the classrooms at Amwamba Day Primary School in Igembe South Sub-county. The school was the best among public day primary schools in the county. [Photos courtesy]

A school deep inside Meru has become an example of how learners are struggling with dilapidated facilities to post impressive examination results.

Amwamba Day Primary School in Igembe South emerged the best public day primary school in this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination. But the school’s facilities are far from being the best.

Instead, the school, tucked in the middle of the miraa growing zone, is a perfect example of pupil’s  resilience in the midst of hardship.

Gaping holes

There are gaping holes on the classroom walls. Classroom windows are no more than huge openings covered with wire, exposing learners to cold winds and rain.

A number of toilets caved in during recent rains that pounded the region, leaving only a few left to be shared by tens of learners. The floors are dilapidated, the old asbestos roofs leak.

The asbestos roof have since been condemned by public health officials as health hazards, but the school cannot afford to replace them.

Amidst all these challenges, the pupil’s resilience over the years has been nothing short of super human.

For seven years now, the school has defied all these challenges to emerge the best public day primary school in Meru County.

In this year’s KCPE examination, Immaculate Kendi blazed the trail by scoring 423 marks out of the possible 500, with Markto Karani coming second with 418 marks, an impressive performance by any standards.

Brian Karani is happy with his 402 marks which should secure him a good high school next year.

In this years KCPE examination Amwamba’s 29 out of 55 managed to achieve 350 and above marks.

Great concern

The last candidate scored 318 marks, an exemplary performance in examination results dominated by better equipped private schools.

Head Teacher Silas Kamui says this year’s KCPE class performed well in the face of the challenges.

He admits that the institution urgently needs financial assistance to improve its dilapidated facilities.

Of great concern to the head teacher is the school’s asbestos roofing which, he fears, poses a greater danger than the gaping holes and open windows.

Experts warn that if inhaled or swallowed, asbestos can cause certain types of cancer. This gives the head teacher sleepless nights.

“Health officials have condemned the asbestos, we would like to replace them but lack the funds to do it. It troubles us, even as we work to help our pupils achieve their academic potential,” Kamui said.

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