Much to Report

3rd Academic Year

Much has happened at Got Matar since November. The school’s third academic year began in January, with the new Form 1 pupils joining in early February, when the paint was just dry on the new buildings. The Community had managed to complete construction of the 3rd classroom block within just 3 months. Like the others, it consists of 3 classrooms and a fourth room for other purposes – in this case to serve as an interim general sciences laboratory until more permanent facilities can be constructed with government funds. Total enrolment has risen to 450 pupils, of which 175 are recipients of bursaries.

Thanks to the continuing generosity of donors as well as the high level of competence displayed by the community, the development of the school’s essential facilities is, therefore, keeping pace with the original plan, set in motion in October 2006.

Form 3 pupils moving into the new block.

VIP Visitors

The most recent meeting of the Board of Governors was attended by Dr. Oburu, the MP for the area, who is a strong supporter of the school. He presented books to the library and confirmed that priority would be given to connecting the school with the mains electricity supply.

In March, John Curtin, who has been running acting tours in the UK for Maasai Warriors over the past few years, visited Got Matar. He has reached agreement with the Community for a fund-raising tour, to be conducted for 3 months from February 2010. The 8 person troupe impressed John enormously by their acting and musical abilities, and so he has begun to set up a programme for them for a series of performances in schools, church groups and theatres across East Anglia.

A visit to the school was also made by Harriet Stone from the Australian NGO, Bricks and Cartwheels, through which Australian architects are working voluntarily to help school building in Africa. She has expressed preliminary interest in supporting the construction of a girls’ dormitory at Got Matar, but is awaiting a proposal from the Community.

Fourth Block

The top priority for this year is the construction and furnishing of the fourth and final block of multi-purpose classrooms, that will bring total classroom capacity up to the target of 600 pupils. The aim will be to have this ready for the start of the 2010 school year.