- Otamba Girls has, over the years, nurtured talents that they identify within the school.
- For the school to spread its wings and fly high to the top league, it needs firm ground and support.
- During the education day, the alumni were motivated by the progress they were witnessing in the school.
After missing on the excellence map for quite some time, St. Augustine Otamba Girls has, in recent years, started to regain its strength in curricular and co-curricular activities.
In a prize-giving event held at the school grounds on June 23, 2023, the attendants were pleased with the improvements which the school has been making.
The event was graced by the area Member of Parliament represented by the constituency manager, Evans Makori; Dr. Peter Otieno, a lecturer at Kisii University; teachers, parents, and community members, among other guests.
The school
St. Augustine Otamba Girls was started in 1969 as a day and, boarding mixed school up to 2015 when it became a girls’ school.
The school has eight classrooms and four dormitories.
The current student population stands at 347, while the teaching staff has 18 teachers and 24 student-teachers on teaching practice.
They have 14 members of non-teaching staff.
Moving up
They have moved from 4.25 in 2020 to 4.19 in 2021 and again shot to 6.25 in 2022, qualifying 33 students for university, from 6 the previous year.
“Our school has set a target mean of 7.25 plus for this year’s KCSE exams. We believe we will achieve this target with the help of the strategies we have put in place to prepare our candidates. Come next year onwards, Otamba Girls will not be the same,” Mrs. Ruth Inganga lauded.
Mrs. Inganga took over in 2018.
Population-wise, the school has continued to rise annually and they anticipate growing their population to 400 students.
Talents
Otamba Girls has, over the years, nurtured talents that they identify within the school.
Particularly in the long jump, they are the current national champions.
Miriam Nyambane, a form three student who is the national champion in the long jump, will represent the school and Kenya at East Africa sports in Bujumbura in August this year.
In other fields, like music festivals, they are proceeding to the regionals.
According to Mrs. Gladys Mosomi, the Deputy Principal, The school is making sure that no talents are going unnoticed.
Challenges
Otamba Girls is facing some challenges that need to be addressed for good service delivery to students and the community.
Ms. Mosomi says that the school needs fencing to safeguard the students from any dangers that come with openings around the school.
She also adds that some students have serious financial challenges and cannot afford basic needs and require support.
The school also needs to be equipped with staff quarters for easy and continuous monitoring of the students during the nights and weekends.
Currently, only the principal and deputy principal reside within the school.
The school also needs a dining hall and walking lanes; this is because they get muddy during rainy seasons.
Support systems
For the school to spread its wings and fly high to the top league, it needs firm ground and support.
This is where the community, county and national government, parents and well-wishers put their support to help the school to grow.
Ms. Mosomi says that the school has put in several strategies as from last year, which have worked out for them.
She said the teachers have been meeting the students according to their academic needs.
They have also been exposing students to motivational speakers to mentor them to build smart minds.
Also, they have identified the weak and strong students and serve them at those levels. The introduction of more remedial lessons also has helped improve the school’s performance.
During the education day, the alumni were motivated by the progress they were witnessing in the school.
As a result, they pledged their support to the school; they will replace the old windows and fix the school laboratory to enable students to learn efficiently.
The community, represented by Mzee Nyamweya, congratulated the school and urged the students to remain focused, just as the community is also focused on supporting the school.
The school’s Board of Management Chairperson, Henry Karori, said they are always committed to supporting the school move forward through a number of mechanisms.
He says they always motivate students by awarding the best in curricular and co-curricular activities.
They also interact with students and teachers often to know their struggles and help out.
“We as the board coordinate all departments and make sure the school is running smoothly,” Mr. Karori added.
The area Member of Parliament has been very instrumental in funding projects and raising fees for some students that he has sponsored in the school.
Speaking during the event, represented by Makori, he said that they are committed to supporting the school through various projects they are planning to initiate.
He said that he will build a dormitory that would cost KSh3 million to accommodate more students in the school.
With KSh20,000, he motivated the teachers for their efforts to see the school rise again.
He also gave KSh90,000 to the students who had made it to university as a token of appreciation for their success.
9 students scored an aggregate of B-(Minus) and 24 scored a C+ (Plus), which helped the school to rise.
Class of 2023
Dr. Otieno of Kisii University urged the students to remain focused on their goals and avoid distractions.
He reminded the students not to sit on their laurels because they might suffer setbacks.
“Do not fear, it will paralyze you and you will not progress. Also, do not quit; keep pushing even after a slide. Avoid immoral conduct, as it kills your academic ambitions,” Dr. Otieno added.
He also urged the parents of the students to consider modern parenting techniques for easy parenting of these students.
He encouraged the parents to motivate their children’s efforts more often and, above all, pray for them.
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The students remain motivated and look forward to reaching this year’s target mean, which is set at 7.25.
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