- Felix Rottman, director of Winds of Change said girls are now performing better academically because they have ample time to attend preps and interact with teachers.
- He said the community's attitude towards girls' education has changed as they embrace the education programme because they feel the girls are safer in boarding schools.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
An NGO in the Laisamis constituency, Marsabit county, has built a dormitory in Titus Ngoyoni Memorial and Loiyangalani primary school to increase girls' enrolment.
Felix Rottman, director of Winds of Change, said girls are now performing better academically because they have ample time to attend preps and interact with teachers.
He said the community's attitude towards girls' education has changed as they embrace the education programme because they feel the girls are safer in boarding schools.
"The community attitude towards education for girls has changed. They are even asking for more dormitories to be built so that more girls can be enrolled," said Rottman
Speaking during the handover ceremony at Loiyangalani, he said each dormitory has a capacity of 96 girls and the facility will even improve girl's security.
"The security of the girls who used to walk long distances will be improved. The parents want the same replicated in remote areas," he said
"The girls will remain in schools and concrete on their education even when their parents migrate in search of pastures and water for their animals during the dry period."
He said with access to quality education becoming lifelong to learners, they work with local communities to address the barriers to quality education for all children by empowering parents and teachers with the tools and training they need so as to give children an opportunity to shine.
He urged parents and guardians to increase their engagement with their child's education in order to improve standards.
The director noted that as parents, there is a need to take children's education seriously by giving them the needed support and monitoring their performance in school and at home.
He said his organization will continue to provide the school's infrastructure and learning materials to increase school access and improve academic performance.
He further explained that education is the pivot upon which every development hinges and made a promise that no stone will be left unturned to promote quality education.
Felix advised the pastoralist communities to embrace modern farming techniques which he said is more profitable than traditional one.
He urged them to plant different types of crops to realize high yields and adopt sustainable production to help mitigate the devastating economic impact of drought.
"There is a need to change the approach to livestock keeping," he said
Loiyangalani subcounty director of education Andrew Galgidhele urged parents to take their responsibility more seriously, saying it is their primary role to raise their children by constantly advising and counselling them so that they grow up to be morally upright citizens.
"I'm calling on parents to take up their parenting role seriously by taking care of their children and advising them not to fall into peer pressure," he said
He advised parents and guardians to instil moral training in their children and continue to teach them the righteous way of life.
Galgidhele added that constant practice, perseverance and guidance especially for the youth produced performance.
He noted that the delinquent behaviour of the youth stemmed from some parent's neglect of their responsibility when the child always want their attention.
"Parents should look at their children in the best way possible if they want the youngsters to be important people in future," he said
"Parents should know that they are responsible for the upbringing of their children. It's really shocking that parents still wait for leaders to tell them to look after their children and yet it's their responsibility."
He described education as the most valuable tool a parent can give to their children but said some parents have denied their children a right to education by not taking them to school.
"Lay a good education for your children by ensuring that they get a good education despite the challenge," he said
The educationist asked students to use the opportunity of a boarding facility by studying hard to become important people in future.
"Education is the key to success. I, therefore, urge you to study hard to achieve your future goals," he said
The director said when adolescent girls are empowered, it benefits all.
He appealed to Winds of Change to continue investing in high-quality education that prepares girls for life as well as boys.
The director asked parents not to neglect the boychild's education while focusing on the girlchild.
He said a lot of focus has been directed towards the education of the girl's child and the boys have been neglected.
"Many boys have dropped out of school as a result of the negligence and opted to abuse drugs due to lack of meaningful job," he said
"As we mind the welfare of the girl child, let us not neglect the boy child because they are also our child. We need to strike a balance between the advancement of both girls and boys."
While praising the winds of change for many development projects in the region, Loiyangalani MCA Daniel Emojo urged residents to work closely with them and warned those fighting the Lake Turkana wind power that time has changed and it's only development that citizens want.
He appealed to an organization to continue supporting the local community and give them working opportunities.
The Lake Turkana wind power under its organization Winds of Change spent Sh250 million.