Namawanga Girls Senior School in Bungoma County, the promise of education is increasingly being weighed down by aging walls, cracked classrooms, and facilities that no longer meet the needs of modern learners.
Speaking to Education News, the school’s chief principal Jane Owuor gave a sobering account of an institution struggling to survive under severe infrastructure strain, even as it strives to deliver quality education under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.
She described the school’s science laboratory as a painful symbol of missed potential, a structure that stands, but only in name. “The laboratory is just a shell,” Owuor said, noting that the lack of equipment has denied learners the practical exposure essential for science education.
The demands of CBE, she added, have further exposed the school’s vulnerabilities. Learners are expected to research, innovate, and interact with digital resources, yet the school lacks a modern library and a functional ICT room supported by reliable internet connectivity.
“These are not luxuries,” Owuor said. “They are basic requirements for today’s learner.”
ALSO READ:
The Home Science room tells an equally distressing story. Once meant to nurture practical life skills, it is now in a pathetic condition, barely fit for instruction. For students eager to learn, the space has become a reminder of how far the school has fallen behind.
Perhaps most alarming is the state of the classrooms themselves. Eight classrooms urgently require renovation, with four recommended for condemnation after developing deep cracks. Built in the 1970s, the aging structures now pose safety risks, forcing learners to study under constant fear rather than focus.
“When it rains, we worry,” Owuor said. “We worry about the walls, the floors, and the safety of our children.”
Outside the classrooms, poor drainage has left the school field vulnerable to flooding, disrupting co-curricular activities and further eroding an already strained learning environment.
Despite the hardships, Owuor expressed gratitude to the area Member of Parliament for the support already extended to the school. However, she made a heartfelt appeal to well-wishers, partners, and stakeholders to intervene before the situation worsens.
“Namawanga Girls Senior School still holds hope,” she said. “With timely support, we can restore dignity to this institution and give our girls a safe, supportive space to dream, learn, and succeed.”
By Godfrey Wamalwa
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
