Teacher reveals how best school countrywide made it

Fred's Academy Director Fredrick Mutwiri (left) receives a gift from Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi after the county invited him at the county headquarters. The institution was the best in this year's KCPE exam country wide. [Peter Muthomi, Standard]

A teacher at Freds Academy has lifted the lid on what has made the institution, founded by Fredrick Mutwiri in 1993, stand out in this year’s KCPE.

John Muthee, the upper primary school mathematics teacher, told The Standard the pro-performance attitude of the proprietor coupled with impeccable teacher-pupil contact have helped maintain an upward trend.

“He (proprietor) arrives at the school at 6am and is the last to leave the compound in the evening. He always ensures there is an environment for outstanding performance,” he said.

But Mr Muthee said their highest breakthrough comes from ability to connect with pupils’ needs at the lowest level and to solve weaknesses and bring out the best in them.

“A pupil’s performance is a concern for all teachers in this school and we follow the performance of all students all the way from Standard Four and it involves the individual pupil’s weakness being established and steps undertaken to ensure it has been solved,” said Mr Muthee.

The teacher, who has been with the school for six years, said rarely did teachers come across a pupil whose weakness they could not remedy.

Consultation hours

Freds Academy registered 55 candidates this year. The pupils were in two streams, which enabled the teacher-pupil contact to thrive.

Teachers also hang around in the school and most are accommodated within the compound.

There is a teacher consultation hour, between 5.30pm and 6.30 pm, in which pupils can take individual queries to teachers.

Four prep periods are reserved for pupils in Standard Seven and Eight from 5.05am-6.00 am, 1.30pm-1.45 pm, 4.30pm- 5.30pm and 8.30pm-9.30 pm daily.

Teaching continues on limited weekend hours, with teachers in Standard Seven and Eight divided in two shifts to enable one group take a break on alternate weekends.

Pupils don’t do their own laundry. The institution has 30 teachers and 30 support staff.