Langalanga Primary School
Date started: March 2005
Date completed: September 2006
Cost of project: £85,000
Size of school: Double stream school built for 720 pupils
One liner: This is the 'mother' school for some of the children of the shanty town of the same name. In the last 20 years other schools have grown up within 3-4km to cope with the population explosion.
Pictures:
Langalanga schoolchildren hardworking and happy in their new school as the standard of their education rises.
The marble plaque unveiled in September 2006. The format and Biblical inscription is the same in all the schools we hand over to the local community.
Handover ceremony in progress. Photo also shows part of this very big and imposing campus. All rooms have chased electric cable ducts in the hope that one day electricity will be available. When that happens we hope adult education will follow after nightfall.
Current Status: Currently (September 11) 636 children are taught here. All 16 classrooms are in use and there are clear indications that the effects of the Langalanga Scholarship Fund (our sister charity) and KST are improving the standard of education. The school is used as the venue for ‘Founder’s Day’ when over 100 scholars assemble to listen to highly successful Kenyans who have important and relevant ideas to pass on to their young audience.
More info: The Handover Ceremony was held in September 2006. A Government minister and about 3000 people were present. Entertainment by the children and those from surrounding schools and speeches lasted over 5 hours!
The school has a magnificent library with thousands of children's reading books brought from England and some bought in Kenya. The staffroom is extensive and each member of staff has their own work space and lockable cupboard.
KST has
supported this school since handover in 2006 by paying half the
salaries of up to four qualified teachers. The parents pay the other
half. In addition, Langalanga Scholarship Fund scholars who were
educated at this primary school and have successfully completed their
secondary studies, return to act as assistant teachers prior to
continuing their education through tertiary level. Normally there
are at least two such scholars.
It was encouraging to note that one qualified teacher we supported in January 2007 had done so well that her class was listed 2nd out of 158 schools in Nakuru District. She was given a pay rise. She moved to the next class with those same pupils and then to the third. Lucky pupils!
The PAC3000 Football Tournament is hosted annually by this school. There are currently 22 teams from the area who compete in a league and knockout competition. The football pitch is maintained by KST’s generous sponsor from Suffolk, England and Dragoman passengers’ donations paid for the construction of an 80-seater grandstand. The finals are always held in February and it is a very special occasion for hundreds of enthusiasts.