When 2023 academic year started, there were tell-tale signs that Ng’iya Girls High School was to have a change of guard after 13 years of the reign of Florence Okut – posted to the school in 2009.
On 2nd February, 2023, a new Chief Principal, Hellen Masengeli, reported to the institution from Sinyolo Girls High School in Kisumu County. Within two weeks, she had met major stakeholders to chart the way forward for the century-old institution founded in 1923.
Thrilled with positive feedback from the girls and teachers alike, The Rock Journalism Club asked her for an interview. We twice rescheduled the sit-down due to her full in-tray. We finally sat at her well-spruced expansive office.
“In 2015, you received second best Huduma Award for excellent management at Sinyolo Girls’ High School. What made you to be recognized for this coveted prize?”
“When I joined Sinyolo Girls, I made radical changes which positively transformed the mindset of both learners and teachers. I also ensured that the learning environment was conducive for my girls. I was humbled and stirred for the recognition. This award inspired me to always do my work with passion,” Masengeli said, who happens to be the wife of Acting IG Gilbert Masengeli.
“Talking of the girl-child, tell us about your allure with the fairer sex?”
“In my teaching career, I love to mentor girls to be responsible citizens in adulthood. My relationship with them is a symbiotic one. They must reciprocate by excelling in their studies.”
She continued, “In my former station, I formed a kitty that supported girls from vulnerable backgrounds. My house was also a girls’ hostel as I could host several students during school holidays.”
Rare feat
Of all the stellar performance in the institutions she headed, the hallmark of her teaching career which spans over two decades was when Sinyolo Girls High School emerged East Africa’s hockey champions several times in a row.
“Since 2013, your school was feted as the best overall hockey team. What was the Midas touch?”
“The hockey team was always optimistic of victory. We emerged winners in the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) competitions of 2014 held in Dar-es-Salam in Tanzania, those of 2015 in Huye-Rwanda. In 2016, we were also East African champions for the competitions held in Eldoret-Kenya. In 2017, we retained the trophy in Gulu-Uganda.”
She further said, “Hockey contributed to the growth of the school numerically and even marketed it nationally. With a huge population, we had a wide pool of students to select potentially good players from.”
Within a short stint at the school, Masengeli has made a raft of changes. The girls now have a necktie and a scarf. She has also mounted a 65” inch television in the Assembly Hall for entertainment. They now enjoy a well-balanced diet and a serene learning environment.
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“A tranquil environment is critical for teaching and learning. I’ve done a facelift on the Home Science and Science laboratories to befit the status of a national school. My next project is to construct an ultra-modern library as this is the knowledge processing hub in any learning institution.”
Masengeli is an easy-going character. We laughed in between the conversation. Even so, beneath this demeanour, she has produced excellent results in History and Government, with her KCSE 1999 class topping in Nyanza region while teaching at Migori Boys High School.
“When my class topped, the former Nyanza Provincial Commissioner Peter Raburu gifted me a parcel of land amongst other top performers. I was also invited to top schools to talk about academic excellence in the subject.”
The no-nonsense school arrowhead who was in the last A-Level class also talks about her bad times. “It pains me when a school-going girl gets pregnant. This is usually my lowest moment. I always urge my girls to prioritize their studies and avoid bad influence that leads to teenage pregnancies.”
“What did Teachers Service Commission consider before plucking you from your former station to head the giant girls’ school?”
She smiled a bit and remarked, “I did not expect a transfer as Sinyolo Girls was still close to my heart. I received a call from the Regional Director of Education (Nyanza) that I was to take-over the baton of leadership at Ng’iya Girls High School. This was so abrupt.”
She added, “Looking back, I have been a transformational leader since my days at Bande Girls Secondary School in Migori County. Maybe the giant teachers’ employer was fishing for someone to transform Ng’iya Girls.”
“Your parting shot?” “I want a better life for the girl-child.”
By correspondents
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