Fifteen years ago, Endebess Sub-county in Trans Nzoia had fewer than ten secondary schools and approximately 20 primary schools. Today, the Sub-county, which also translates to Endebess constituency, boasts about 45 secondary schools that serve learners from about 120 primary schools.
The Sub-county, which was carved off from the larger Kwanza constituency in 2007, used to send Form One students to neighbouring Sub-counties, such as Saboti and Cherangany, and even outside the county, after completing primary education.
That was before the election of the area MP, Dr. Robert Pukose, in the 2013 inaugural elections after the promulgation of the 2010 New Constitution, a seat he has held since then.
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However, a casual look at Endebess reveals that it compares unfavourably to the other Sub-counties in the promotion of both primary and secondary education, as it lags in terms of academic and extracurricular performance.
According to the Trans Nzoia KUPPET, Dr Pukose had cooperated well with the teachers as compared to other MPs in the county in the awarding of bursaries to students.
The KUPPET Chair Eliud Wafula said that while the other MPs were awarding Ksh 3,000 per student from the NG-CDF, Dr Pukose was giving out at least Ksh 30,000, which could sustain a student for one academic year.
Despite receiving the same capitation from the MoE and the NG-CDF as other sub-counties with fewer schools, Endebess Sub-county is still disadvantaged.
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“The MP has assured us that he has no time discussing teachers on the public forums, and his NG-CDF contribution is being felt on the ground. As KUPPET, we have no squabbles with him. He treats each teacher equally, and that is what is lacking in other leaders, ” said Wafula.
For example, the MP has fronted the creation of new secondary schools like St Veronica Kokwo Girls’, Endebess Town, Imbuye Mixed and Nai Girls, which was split from Nai Mixed. As a motivation, the MP has presided over each secondary school owning a school bus, a move that has seen teachers, students and parents using them for benchmarking.
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Others seeking secondary schools outside the constituency, the lawmaker utilised the NG-CDF for infrastructure provision, with parents paying for the school fees. Such is the case of St Veronica Kokwo Girls’ whose principal Rose Kirui pays tribute for the support of the school’s facilities to the NG-CDF.
Matumbei and Kitum are the other secondary schools competing to upgrade to county schools as the Ministry of Education (MoE) engages in a nationwide exercise to promote schools in preparation for the introduction of Grade 10 next year under the Competency-Based Education system.
BY ABISAI AMUGUNE
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