By Benedict Ng’etich
A Sh5.1 million worth laboratory has been unveiled at Sosiot Girls Secondary School courtesy of Finlay’s Community Trust Corporate Social Responsibility.
The Finlays Community Trust is an independent charity that endeavors to empower communities and nurture sustainable growth in Kericho and Bomet Counties.
Funded by James Finlay Kenya, the Trust aims at delivering maximum social, environmental and economic benefits by taking a collaborative approach in working with the local communities.
The Director in charge of Corporate Affairs at the trust Mr. Sammy Kirui while speaking during the official opening of the unit said the facility was constructed with a view of bolstering the performance of Science subjects in the school.
Kurui said apart from responding to an appeal by the board of the school, Finlay’s Trust was aware of the challenges faced by several schools in the two counties.
“The lack of equipped science laboratories is one of the biggest challenges being faced by various schools in the two counties. That is the reason the trust is focused on putting up laboratories where possible. “He said.
As they handed over the building to the school he asked the school fraternity to assume full possession of the facility and maintain it carefully adding that both the students and the staff of the school should fully utilize it so as to improve their performance in science subjects.
The Finlay’s Trustees Ambassador Mr. Joshua Terer advised parents whose children attained a mean grade B- minus and above to apply for the trust scholarships.
In attendant also was Dr. Willita Rop who asked the girls to work hard and aim higher in sciences which in turn will open professional doors for them in the future.
The school Principal Mrs. Esther Kaptingei said the school was on the right course in terms of performance especially in science subjects adding that in 2020, 231 candidates registered for Biology subject and managed to attain a mean grade of 5.30 which was up from a mean of 4.16 in 2019.
Last year 232 candidates registered for Physics and managed a mean score of 6.47 up from 5.70 in 2019 and 233 candidates registered for Chemistry paper and scored a mean of 4.23 up from 3.70 the previous year.
“AS we can see from the results, there is a great improvement in performance which we hope to greatly increase with the construction of the laboratory, “she added while thanking the trust for considering Sosiot girls for help.
Others present were Finlay’s Tea General Manager in Charge of Operations Mr. Wesley Bosuben and Chairperson of the school board of Management Rev. Joyce Tanui.
