Sh35m upgrade transforms Omollo Agar Primary School in Homa Bay

Mpesa spent Sh35 million to rebuild Omollo Agar Primary School in Karachuonyo Constituency to promote and improve academic performance in the institution.

Pupils in the school were previously learning in dilapidated infrastructure, which greatly affected their continuous education processes.

The school community on Monday was relieved following the Mpesa Foundation handover of newly built infrastructure.

The project entailed a total overhaul of old buildings, putting up walkways around the compound, a kitchen room, installing water tanks for hygiene, and fencing the school to promote security.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo lobbied for the project.

The school head, Caroline Odongo, said when she joined the institution in 2023, the institution was in dire need of infrastructure.

“The school had dilapidated infrastructure and poor sanitation. Animals would walk in and out of the school compound anytime without our authority, but it's now fenced,” Odongo said.

Then it had 124 learners in primary and 54 in early childhood development.

According to Odongo, teachers converted one of the classrooms into an office and staffroom.

The school had partitioned the early childhood education centre with a classroom board and used it to host two groups of learners.

“There were a lot of difficulties in teaching as learners in different classrooms shared one blackboard. The situation affected their ability to learn, especially when teachers came to the two different classrooms at the same time," she said.

Most young pupils had difficulties improving their handwriting.

The head teacher said they approached PS Omollo, who in turn engaged the Mpesa Foundation for intervention.

Omollo said the school had suffered from dilapidated infrastructure for years. The school was started in the early 60s.

“The school had a dusty floor and mud walls. Learners sat on stones and wrote on their laps. But we hope the new infrastructure will help in improving academic performance," Omollo said.

PS Omollo said infrastructure plays a key role in academic performance.

He challenged those in the private sector and in public service to support schools within their neighbourhoods and make a difference.

“Let us take children to school and improve their learning environment. All children are equal, and if they are given a conducive environment, they will be able to acquire better education,” the PS said.

In the company of the Sustainability and Shared Value Specialist at Safaricom PLC, Karen Basiye, Mpesa Foundation Trustee Patricia Ithau, and Karachuonyo MP Adipo Okuome, Omollo said the government would employ another 24,000 new teachers before the year ends.

The Ministry of Education has already hired 76,000 teachers over the past three years.

He told parents not to allow their children to drop out of school, saying that the government is putting up all modalities to ensure all Kenyan children acquire basic education.

“Whoever drops out of school is likely to engage in crime. No child of school-going age should be found working,” he added.

Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Director Prof. Charles Ongondo said Omollo Agar Primary School will be made a centre of excellence.

KICD will use it as a centre for retraining Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers.

Ongondo said teachers in Karachuonyo will use Omollo Agar Primary School as their training centre, adding that it has the best facilities and tools for conducting training.

“We've developed a curriculum that will produce an engaged and empowered citizen. This school is among a few in Kenya that has the right infrastructure for successful implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum,” Ongondo said.

Parents James Osano and Everlyne Nyawara said their pupils would previously complain of many challenges when they used worn-out classrooms at the school.

"Sanitation was a problem in the school. Many children would develop coughs and runny noses due to dust," Nyawara said.