How I turned around slum school’s fortunes in a year

Nyamachaki Primary School in Nyeri,the Headteacher Nicholas Gathemia has transformed the school which has a population of 1500 students.,March 30, 2017 [PHOTO:KIBATA KIHU/STANDARD]

On February 29, 2016, Nicholas Gathemia reported to Nyamachaki Primary School in Nyeri town after a transfer from Kirichu Primary School in Kieni. The headteacher with 35 years’ experience was tasked with turning around an institution with one of the largest pupil populations in Nyeri County.

Mr Gathemia is known for being a no-nonsense administrator with a kind but firm hand. “When I came here, one of the things I noticed was diversity,” he says. But the school had a porous fence and a bare and dusty compound. All pupils would fetch water for cleaning their classrooms.