St Mary’s Mukumu Girls’ Primary School, the understated academic giant

St. Marys Girls Mukumu Boarding Primary Principal Sister Petronilla Lusanji displays a trophy which the school won nationally as Child friendly award 2016. BY BENJAMIN SAKWA

Tucked in Shinyalu constituency, Kakamega county is St Mary’s Mukumu Girls’ Primary School. An institution renowned for its academic and extra curriculum activities.

Last year, the school added another feather to its cap after it was hailed as the best Child Friendly School.

The award, presented by President Uhuru Kenyatta, recognised the institution for being at the forefront in ensuring the school is a drug free zone, meets required guidelines for learners with disabilities and conservation of the environment.

According to the head teacher Sister Petronilla Lusanji, the school’s successes are primarily because it promotes equality and equity among learners as well as a deliberate move to put measures in place that ensure the safety of all learners while in school.

“We won the child friendly award because the school met all set requirements. We advocate for good community linkages and promote nutrition of our pupils,” she says.

Sister Lusanji also observed that learning at the school does not only take place in the classroom but that it is an ongoing process in all the student’s interactions.

A sentiment we were able to verify with the many inspirational and educational quotes visible across the school’s various notice boards.

“Our mission as a school is to mould our girls into people who are not just school leavers but individuals conversant with life’s principles who are able to offer solutions to social and personal problems they encounter,” she adds.

Deputy head teacher, Judith Oyangi, says the school focuses a lot on ensuring their students needs are met noting that this leads to increased concentration in class and overall success.

“Our focus is to cater for the needs of our pupils. We ensure they get what they deserve to make them perform better in a conducive environment,” says Ms Oyangi.

And their efforts are paying off if their KCPE results are anything to go by. The school had 153 students sit for the exams and they attained a mean score of 374 points with 40 students set to go to national schools.

They also produced the top girl in Kakamega County with 432 marks out of possible 500 marks.

“We thank God for the excellent performance in 2015 and plan to do better this year,” she says.

The Catholic sponsored school was started in 1928 as a single stream school run by the Ursuline Sisters from Holland until 1970 when the African Sisters of Mary of Kakamega took over.

It sits on approximately six acres of land and serves about 900 girls from all over the country who are taught by 24 teachers.

In terms of infrastructure, the day and boarding school has 30 permanent classrooms, a borehole for its water supply and boarding facilities.