ACTION

1

Minutes and matters arising

KH summarized the discussion  at the January meeting that resulted in TAS temporarily withdrawing financial support to the school until there was evidence of improvement in general and academic performance.

Board members then commented on improvements at the school since the January meeting. 

·         Juma commented that teacher attendance had improved.

·         There has been a big change – students are happy with a new improved interaction with teachers.

·         There are fewer absences 

·         He had seen lesson plans –class 8 and Osman and Stephen. (the TAS supported teachers)

·         Juma commented that English is spoken much more now by the children at school – Swahili is only spoken on Fridays.  

·         The Headteacher commented about increases in the hours worked by both teachers and children:

·         Children arrive at school at 630am for extra classes.

·         Formal classes start at 8am until lunchtime1220. There is a government school feeding programme. 

·         GMA asked what happens to teachers of the lower classes years 1-3.   They stay in school to prepare for next day and  always stay in school and assist with upper school. 

·         For example Osman (TAS funded teacher) takes standard 5 RE. 

·         Classes continues 2pm – 3.10pm with further extra teaching until 430pm for children from standard 4-8. 

·         There is also a night prep programme- standard 7-8.

·         Trustees commented that while the additional hours worked suggested a very positive improved level of commitment from teachers and students, it did not necessarily mean that teaching standards and academic results were improving. GMA asked what would be different for those students repeating standard 7 – ‘if you do the same you get the same’? 

Standard 8 support

·         HT thanked TAS for the extra funds for the standard 8 class- they bought course books for KPCE and Reference material.

·         TAS had provided Ksh50,000 for standard 8 for textbooks and for taking them to a good School in Garissa –‘Life Frontier’. 

·         The class size for standard 8  has reduced from 30 to 10 students.   GMA questioned whether this would enable the school to look like it was getting better results but with fewer students. The response was that the 10 in Standard 8 are not the best of Asako’s students.  The 3 top students from last year’s standard 7 left to another school.  Background of the 10 is poor.

·         HT said some teachers (including Alice) were motivating students by giving them rewards of exercise books and pens.   Teachers and Chairman contribute for the rewards for the top 3 children in each class. Osman also buys examination papers for Standard 8 every month.

·         Standard 7 students carried on at school during the April school holidays.  There were 30 students (including 10 girls) who were taught by a TSE teacher from the community for 20 days. 

·         Standard 8 are asking more questions in class.  There is a sense of improvement the level of their engagement.  Practising more in the school.

·         There is now a debating club, quizzes club, shamba  the school is more lively. 

·         Mohammed Gure, the teachers’ representative, described a ‘new dawn’ at Asako after the January TAS meeting.  He said this was due to morning preps with Mr Stephen starting at 6am.

·         He said there was a  lot of improvement – with parents involved.

·         He described one teacher - Alice Akini (the class 3 student) motivating her  children by offering shirts for all students getting an A grade. 15 got straight As and were rewarded with white shirts for uniform.

·         He described a change in Class 8 students since visiting Life Frontier through peer teaching.  

·         The school want students to do exam practice every month

·         Results of recent practice exams was 227 average for class 8.

·         Teaching plans – the HT is helping the teachers to improve the quality of the teaching.  Teachers are getting everything they need.

Pupil retention:

Retention is an issue through the school – with a lot of students leaving before completing KCPE.   Numbers of students in each class:

*NB at the start of the year there were 271 – several transferred because of poor performance.

Maintenance of the school facilities:

·         There is not a culture of regular maintenance of school buildings despite the existence of a fund for maintenance. (Ksh18,000 per term – the first tranche came January and was used for minor repairs -  Mending walls,  desk repair, fixing the gate door) .  The second tranche is coming soon.

·         GMA asked why was nothing done sooner?  Didn’t budget for it? What was it spent on?   Last time they concentrated on boarding issues – budgeted for food for boarders.

·         GMA asked whether the classrooms are kept clean? Of course – it’s the children’s responsibility.   There are rotas for class sweepers.  Teachers do check it. Before 8am   

·         JAD _ things are better in relation to school maintenance. 
Staff quarters – water is flowing through pipes and they are working on toilets and showers. 

·         There is now water for kitchens too.

·         GMA asked whether the teachers’ housing allowance was now being used for housing maintenance and repairs? How much?  Government TSE teachers receive Ksh3000 per month.   (Only 3 receive the Ksh  3000 (it’s effectively a hardship allowance))

·         There are 7 teachers living in the TAS houses.  The Headteacher has house to himself but the other houses have 2 teachers each.    Others in lodgings  elsewhere.

·         Teachers agreed to pay Ksh500 per month for maintenance in January  so there should be a kitty of 5 months of maintenance i.e. Ksh2,500 x 7 teachers = Ksh 17,500.  But this has not been done yet.

·         Houses were handed over to the community when built.  Kulisa is the representative of the community and suggested having a committee and opening an account.  Have a separate bank account for this?  The existing KCB account could be used. 

·         JAD _ there is a maintenance account for the school.  Use that? 

·         No – because government accounts are audited so difficult to ringfence any funds for this.  

·         Charge for the water – Ksh 100 per month per teacher – unlimited.  JAD suggesting they pay this from the 500- GMA said no – pay it separately.

·         There are trees growing in the school now. 50 new trees.   Nursery and small spiro to come to plant seedlings. 

HT to collect Ksh 2500 from each of 7 teachers to be paid into the TAS APST account with KCB in Garissa.

Teachers salaries:

·         Mohammed Gure said that the teachers were very upset when they found out about TAS wanting cut salaries of the 2 TAS funded teachers in half .

·         2 TAS funded teachers at Asako receive Ksh17,000 but other TAS schools teachers receive only Ksh 6-8000.

·         Osman – retired former head teacher is one of the Asako TAS teachers.  He is a former Asako pupil. He can’t work for government – 65-70 years old. 

·         Stephen is the second TAS teacher and is hoping to be  taken on by TSE.    

·         TAS contracts are every 6 months – starting January and July.   The origin for the high salaries for Asako was because TAS recognized the problem of teacher retention at Asako and the need for high quality, fully trained teachers.

·         JAD suggested a solution – asking the teachers if willing to take 10,000 instead and re-advertising the posts if necessary. 

·         TAS could fund KSH10,000 and seek the additional cKsh1250 per month from the community – i.e. top up to Ksh12,000.

·         JAD suggested a contribution of Ksh 10 per month per student that would generate Ksh2550 per month between the 2 teachers.

·         It would take Ksh55 per child per month to cover the shortfall from Ksh 10,000 to the current level of Ksh 17,000. JAD suggested this is too much for the parents to pay.

·         Parents already pay Ksh 300 per student for exams.  Community paid for the accommodation. 

·         The proposal was to let the existing 2 TAS teachers stay until the end of school year with Ksh 17,000. 

·         GMA agreed to put proposal to board for 5m for additional funds to cover and maintain Ksh17,000 for the 2 TAS teachers plus continuing with Ksh6,0000 per month for nursery teacher and caretaker.

·         From January 2012 change TAS salaries to Ksh 10,000 per month. 

·         Nursery teacher – was supposed to be Ksh 6000 the community was supposed to pay Ksh 2000 per teachers

Need funding proposal for 5m (or more) salaries. Plus community to pay Ksh 10 per child

Proposal for Nursery school teacher from other side of river

·         150 small children on Pamba island with 2 classrooms and boat provided by CDF but no teachers.

·         They requested funding for new nursery teachers.

·         GMA – this is a strategic issue – needs to be dealt with by education department. 2 districts. 

·         Island in river is still part of Tana river district

·         Pamba island

·         BUT NB it was already agreed and funded - £600 from TAS September 2010 = Ksh 72,000

KH to sort out account – recruit nursery teacher straight away for Pamba island. 

·         There was a funding proposal for Class 8 transportation August holiday education tour of Rift Valley – transportation just to Madogo.

·         Have consistent funds for transport to continue and develop  a long term relationship and partnership with Life Frontier – discuss with lady at Life Premier about doing a tour together. Need Ksh 20,000 for transport….

·         GMA – need to not ask TAS to pay for everything – get community/parents to fund some of it.

·         TAS not funding.  Parents to pay.

GMA reminded that TAS relationship with Asako is temporary – school needs to be standing on its own feet within 5 years. 

Receipts for spending needed:

Ksh 50,000 for Std 8

Books – Ksh 30,000

Tuition at Life Frontier – Ksh1500 per student for 10 days. 10 students.
Asako Teacher  (Eduard)– Ksh 5000.

SK to give KWH receipts for the Ksh 50,000 in Nairobi

Bursary students – TAS will conclude the bursary programme with the remaining 4 students.

JAD reported that some children with existing bursaries were sent away from school because fees  were not paid.

Madogo has the money – we need to find out where the funds for the one student at Mbalambala have gone. 

KWH to look at account.

Expenses for the meeting:   Ksh12,500 was agreed for expense for the 4 local trustees for transportation, (Asako-Garissa-Mwingi) and  accommodation  for 2 nights and food. 

1

Komora Samwel - Headteacher

Class 6 Swahili

Class 5 social and Swahili

Class 4 – English

TSC Headteacher

2

Ismail Abdullahi

Class 8 (English) Class 7 –Maths, Class 6 English

TSC

3

Mohamed Gure

Class 8, social and RE , class 7 English/RE, class 6 maths

TSC

4

Edward Mandere Omao

Class 8 – science/Swahili

7 and 6 science

TSC (ESP contract under TSC)

5

Alice Maga Akingi

Class 3

TSC (ESP contract under TSC)

6

Victoria Josiah

Class 2

TSC (ESP contract under TSC)

7

Steven Kasamu Komu

8  Maths

7 Swahili

6 Social

TAS

8

Osman Abatano

class 1

TAS

9

Alkano Galgalo Bokao

nursery

ECD – TAS

10

Bare Hassan Idd

nursery

ECD - TAS