By ANDANJE WAKHUNGU
Just after the parents expressed displeasure over Notre Dame boarding 2021 fees structure recently, the school’s Board of Management (BOM) chairman, Dr. George Kegode has come out to clear the air on the impasse that is threatening to bring disunity at the institution.
Speaking on phone from Eldoret, the BOM chairman laid bare the truth behind the school’s proposed fees structure, stating that it has advanced plans to introduce a boarding section soon.
“We are on course to start a boarding section which is not mandatory and will only serve those parents who prefer their pupils to become boarders, while we will be continuing with our normal ECDE and day primary learning. Let not the parents who received the fees structure panic because it is just a proposal that we have released to enable them go through and give feedback before we introduce boarding section for the upper classes hopefully next year (July),” he said.
Kegode defended the management for declining to respond to enquiries form the media, saying it was part of their doctrine that they should not disclose matters pertaining to the school and their charitable organisation.
“I’m sorry there was a communication breakdown between the two parties, but on our part it was protocol being observed, let it not sound like we are hiding something from the public, we are committed to assisting the needy and bright pupils within and we are extending our tentacles across other regions within the country as we are planning to become a center of excellence that will not only produce good results but also morally upright members of the society at large who can uphold and exercise the rule of law,” he said.
The chairman who had earlier with his team visited the education office to clear the air on the ongoing standoff said the school was being sponsored by voluntary sponsors who for many years have been silently funding full scholarships of over 90 of the pupils at the school and in the recent times, they have been experiencing financial constraints leading to failure to pay teachers and other staff.
“Most of our sponsors have aged and others died and with the prevailing conditions we are undergoing (Covid-19), as a school through the board that was constituted two years ago, sat and resolved to come up with several income-generating activities including the introduction of boarding section for those who can afford it so that the funds generated will be used to run the school and offer scholarship to the many pupils the school is supporting,” he noted.
“We are also planning to start various farming, livestock and poultry projects for the school to be able to stand on its own as foreign support continues to dwindle,” he added.
“How will you feel if you heard that Notre Dame has closed due to its inability to get sponsorship? That is why we are working around the clock to be able to continue offering this services even when completely there will be no support whatsoever from well-wishers.
He said the institution was putting up a Sh90 million boarding section that was in a class of its own where there will be a matron per ten pupil cubicle to monitor and guide them.
He further called on the media to positively highlight the school as it was geared to going to greater heights in matters education.
“We are not only stopping at the boarding section but also shall establish a high school and even university where our pupils will undertake their education and as we plan to start bench making with renowned schools within the country, we are also opening up to receive pupils from other parts of the country who can become boarders within our facilities and we will be generating income for our local pupils we offer scholarships to.
The chairman disclosed that the school despite being a Catholic sponsored institution admits and even offers scholarships to non-Catholic pupils without any form of religious discrimination.
