Site Visit Report

On Thursday October 27, 2011, I visited the Asako Primary School Trust for the first time in my 3 month tenure as APST

Secretary. The goal of the visit was to assess the current state of TAS investments in the school, to ascertain academic

output, in particular the expected results on the KPCE for Standard 8 students this year, and to subsequently make a

Asako Primary School has received from TAS around £84,000 over the last 5 years, and, although this investment has

transformed the infrastructure, it has shown little evidence of improving the school's academic results. The TAS Board of

Trustees feels there should be no further funding beyond December unless significant improvements are evident.

With this is mind, I was prepared to notify Chairman Juma Ali Dido and Head Teacher Komora during the site visit that

TAS’ financial commitment to Asako would end unequivocally after December 2011. After the visit, however, I am inclined

to recommend to the Trustees that no major decisions be made until after the KPCE results are reported in January

2012. While the site visit revealed some serious disappointments in terms of the School’s stewardship of TAS

investments, there were enough significant changes at the school and enough tangible evidence that this year’s KPCE

results will show a marked improvement over last year’s to justify a minimal continued financial commitment to APST for

the remainder of the school year.

Asako Primary School Trust - School Visit Report - October 27, 2011

1

(Teacher Representative), Kulisa Shora Dirikicha (Trustee), Stephen Kameti (TAS/KWS) & Sarah Wright (APST Secretary).

Major TAS investments in Asako include: staff housing; teacher salaries (2 primary teachers and 3 nursery teachers,

including 1 on Pamba Island); Books and Bookbags; Supplementary Tuition for Standard 8 prep for KPCE; Storage

lockers; fuel-efficient cookers; and perimeter fencing.

The past two Trust meetings in January and May 2011 encapsulated serious concerns about the efficacy of TAS

investments to date. The two major concerns involved 1) poor maintenance of the teacher housing and 2) high teacher

pay levels despite poor academic results, as reflected in a mean score of 192 achieved on the 2010 KPCE.

Teacher Housing: Both in January and May meetings, TAS requested that, in order to pay for housing repair and

maintenance, the head teacher collect 500 ksh monthly from each of the teachers living in the housing. These funds

would comprise a kitty that could then be used to pay for upkeep of the buildings. This request was based on the

premise that TSE teachers (and, by virtue of commensurate salary levels, TAS teachers) receive a 3,000 ksh monthly

housing allowance, yet are not having to pay for housing. TAS also suggested teachers pay 50 ksh per month for water.

The October meeting revealed that no money had yet been collected from the teachers residing in the housing. The

water bill is apparently covered by funds received through the Electricity, Water and Conservancy Fund. But regarding the

housing maintenance fund, the teachers unilaterally viewed this as a rent payment and no one seemed to understand the

concept of the fund -- not rent but rather an insurance policy against damage and decay of the housing so that no one is

“caught out” when repairs are necessary. There was also a disagreement about how many teachers were actually

receiving a housing allowance. Teacher representative Gure Muhamed stated that only two of the teachers were receiving

a housing allowance (this is not the recollection of the previous APST Secretary). Additionally, many of the teachers pay

rent in Garissa so they can have a place to live during school holidays.

Speaking on behalf of TAS, Stephen Kameti and I iterated how disappointing it is that the Headmaster had not followed

up on what had been agreed to in January and May. Apologies were offered that the concept was not clearly

understood, and It was agreed that the teachers, with some assistance from the community, would repair the buildings,

and a monthly contribution fund would be started in January. The staff housing completion report (27/2/2008) does

actually state the community would pay for repairs of the staff housing.

Teacher Salaries: Kameti and I also iterated that teacher salaries provided by TAS would be decreased if not cut come

January. This was a direct result of not having seen significant improvement within the school. Teacher representative

Muhamed questioned the timing. He feels strongly that the schools’ KPCE results will be much improved this year (see

next section). To cut salaries right when scores are improving and cost of living is increasing would send the wrong

message to the teachers. Pending a good KPCE result in January, he advocated for continuing the TAS payment to

teachers through the academic year until they can bid new contracts at a lower pay rate.

Asako Primary School Trust - School Visit Report - October 27, 2011

2

Current State of TAS Investments at Asako School

In an acceptable state, though in need

of maintenance (i.e., new exterior and

interior paint and a good scrub of

walls and baseboards) and repair (i.e.,

occasional broken tile in kitchen and

work required on ceiling due to

termites/ leaks). Cleanliness of houses

seems to have improved since the last

site visit (verified by previous APST

Secretary).

No action had been taken to collect

monthly funds from the teachers living

in the houses to build up a repair and

maintenance fund.

The Chairman and Head Teacher

agreed to handle the existing repairs

and maintenance and begin collecting

monthly funds from January 2012.

The two primary teachers and three

nursery teachers (one on Pamba

island) TAS pays for were all present

during our visit and appeared qualified,

committed and in regular attendance

at the school.

The nursery, in particular, has a very

large student population (138

children), but the building intended for

its use is being used as the boarding

facility.

There was evidence that books were

being used and Asako book bags

were visibly bulging.

The lockers remain unfinished, as the

contractor. Mr. Kimansi, has

disappeared, taking with him the

90,000ksh deposit. Take legal action?

The chimneys of the two jiko cookers,

TAS’ earliest investment at the school,

are in need of repair. One chimney had

been temporarily repaired and was

used to cook a WFP lunch of beans

and maize for all the children.

The perimeter fence appears in good

order, though there are a few gaps

that need attention. It was obvious

from dung within the school grounds

that some of the animals were still

getting through the fence.

The 50 neem trees planted in May,

along the inside perimeter of the

fence, have all died. There was no

explanation offered as to why this

happened, and, given the proximity to

the river, seems hard to excuse.

Asako Primary School Trust - School Visit Report - October 27, 2011

3

Despite mixed if not disappointing stewardship of TAS infrastructure investments, there was encouraging news regarding

both expected KPCE results and new school-initiated undertakings.

In discussions about the TAS-funded Standard 8 two week trip to New Frontier school in August, the KPCE practice test

results taken there show a mean score of 257.6, with the highest scoring student attaining 322 and the lowest scoring

student a 227. If these scores translate into performance on the actual exam next week, this would represent an

sitting the exam will be 240, with five student attaining more than 250.

If this improvement comes to fruition, it will be one of the greatest indicators of school improvement we could hope for at

Asako.

Asako Primary School Trust - School Visit Report - October 27, 2011

4

has not been attending school since February 2011. He is still registered to sit the KPCE. It was agreed that, if he does

sit the exam, it will not be a fair or accurate reflection on the school to count his score towards the mean score.

There are additional changes at the school that indicate a greater commitment of community and staff. The newly

completed dining hall, a very large multi-purpose facility, has been constructed using CDF funding. Furniture is due to

arrive soon. Toilets have been constructed using funding from Caritas. And a new greenhouse, complete with drip

irrigation system, has been assembled using Red Cross funding. The greenhouse will house tomatoes, and watermelons

will be grown in the adjacent irrigated plot. These will be used to feed students as well as to sell in support of the

community. These initiatives represent a considerable level of organization and ingenuity on the part of the Asako

community, spearheaded by Chairman Juma, who maintains an admirable enthusiasm and commitment to the school.

Based on conversations with the previous APST Secretary, the staff quarters appear better kept than last site visit.

Though no teacher register was made available to us, teacher absenteeism is on the decline based on anecdotal

evidence. Basic information on the school, including teacher roster and responsibilities, class timetables, KPCE scores,

and student data, was clearly displayed. Students appear happy, books appear to be in use, and hopes are high that this

year will yield significantly better test results.

At the start of the Asako Primary School Trust site visit, I was prepared to notify an end to all TAS funding after

December. I am now recommending the Trustees wait to make any funding decisions until after the KPCE results are

released in January. If there is an improvement in scores, I suggest TAS continue its current levels of funding for teacher

salaries and consider funding secondary school bursaries for high performers. If the Trustees still deem a funding cut

necessary, I would advocate a decrease in salary support beginning the following school year so that new contracts can

be offered without disrupting the current school year and to avoid sending the message that improvement yields cuts.

Asako Primary School Trust - School Visit Report - October 27, 2011

5