Minutes:
MINUTES OF THE APS TRUST MEETING HELD ON 23 MAY 2008
AT ASAKO PRIMARY SCHOOL
Present: Juma Ali Dido – JAD
Mike Harries – MH
Lissa Campbell – LC
Tony Fitzjohn – TF
Mark Cheriyot - MC
Mohamed Hassan – Head Teacher, Asako – MoH
Kulisa Shora Dirkicha - KD
Ismail F. Solola – Chairman, Board of Governors, Asako - IS
In Attendance:Bob Marshall–Andrews - BMA
Mike Makau – Kolonzo Musyoka Foundation - MM
Abas Kunyo – Area Education Officer - AK
Apologies: Anthony Gross - AFG
1. The Minutes of the meeting on 27th February were tabled and passed.
2. Funding
* Work has started on the staff accomodation and this was viewed prior to the meeting.
* In-service teacher training. MoH proposed that education officials/trainers from Hola were invited to Asako to provide teacher training. This would take the form of three weekends during term time over a whole year for all the teachers of the school. An estimate of Ksh140,000 was given but a comprehensive breakdown of these costs was asked for. GMA asked AK whether the Government would consider matching the Trust so that APST would fund 3 weekends and the Government would fund 3 weekends. Abas said he would investigate this. Currently the government will request a teacher go to Madogo for training but will not provide funds for the transport and accomodation. So, to date no teacher has gone to Madogo for training.
* Teachers’ salaries. A performance review was undertaken earlier in the week of one of the APST teachers – Asilia Saadia Alia and her work was considered ‘excellent’. The other teacher was sick that day but MoH said that her work was good. A P1 teacher is currently on Ksh 11,180 plus benefits – total: Ksh 19,536. After tax this would be around Ksh17,000. It was agreed to put up their salary from July to Ksh17,000. Both teachers are looking to apply for a government teaching post however. From September 2008 the governmnet will also be employing one more teacher for the school.
* Doors and windows. JAD said that it was not worth just putting in new windows and doors when the structure itself was getting old and in need of repair. It was agreed to ask Kimanzi (the constructor building the housing) for a quote for a new roof and windows and doors. JAD said in 2005 CDF refurbished 4 classrooms at a cost of Kes325,000. MoH and JAD to liase with Kimanzi.
* Caretaker. A proposal for paying a caretaker was submitted and approved.
* Motivation of Teachers. JAD felt that schools in nairobi are open for longer hours than Asako where the day is from 8am to 3.45pm. He said he would like teachers to do 2 hours overtime during weekdays and 5-6 hours at weekends. GMA asked JAD and the MoH to submit a full proposal with detailed costings as TAS would be happy to consider it. MoH to ask each teacher whether they would be happy to doextra curriculum work and to submit a separate proposal per teacher.
* Dining Hall and Staff Office. The BoG presented a plan which they had paid an architect for. Each building cost in the region of Kes1.4million. GMA suggested JAD and AK arrange for a ground plan to be drawn up which would be paid for by the BoG as well as a vision for the school listing the priorities. TF asked whether a proper building for the pre-primary school might be more of a priority.
3. Staff attendance
* This still remains high. KWS were unable to provide transport to Garissa for teachers to collect their salary but a vehicle has been coming every day from Garissa.
4. Inventory of all books
* An inventory was seen of the books donated by TAS and the books were inspected in the cupboard. It was noted that the books had not been used. The Pre-primary teacher explained that he had been using one book but that the children were not at a level to use the books yet. GMA stressed the importance of the books being used by the children and that it was acceptable for some of them to be used by older children in the primary school. GMA also recommended that the school put in a proposal for more books.
* BMA suggested that a proposal be put forward for school bags for all the children and JAD said he would obtain a quote for this.
5. Water
* The water from the windmill is being used for the building work and for the animals to drink.
* MoH said that he had taken a sample of the water to KEBS, water experts, to test it. They felt that the water salinity would not change. TF however thought we should give it more time and KD said he felt the water was less saline. MC asked if the water did not improve we relocate it to an area more in need.
* The water tank put in by the French has burst. They have promised to replace it. A tank is ready by the school for the water to pumped to.
6. Communication
* The satphone is working well. However if it is not used for 2 days it doesn’t charge using the solar panels. LC to talk to Indigo about this. JAD charging it at Garissa. Also charging it off existing school solar panels.
* JAD asked if we could open the satphone so it could be used for any number. It was decided that it should remain closed for now.
7. Any other business
* Lighting. MC to put in inverter. It should then be able to light 2 rooms.
* LC to give MC a cheque in Nairobi for the fencing materials. MC to buy and transport to Asako next week.
* A cheque for Kes20,000 for June and July for the 2 pre-primary teachers’salaries was signed by MH and LC
* It was felt that it would be good to draw up an MOU between TAS and KWS. LC to liase with AFG
8. Actions
* MoH to provide full breakdown of costs for teacher training
* AK to look into teacher training in Asako, provided by the government.
* MoH and JAD to liase with Kimanzi over quote for roof, doors and windows
* JAD and the MoH to submit a full proposal for extra-curriculum work by teachers.
* JAD and AK arrange for a ground plan and vision for the school
* JAD to obtain quote for school bags
* MC to put install inverter
* LC to meet with MC regarding fence and MC to start work on it.
* LC to liase with AFG regarding MOU with KWS
9. The meeting ended at 12.30 p.m. As TAS has now set up a Trust for Madogo Secondary School, it was asked whether, to save on costs of flying, the 2 meetings could be combined on the same day at the same venue, running concurrently. This was agreed and the next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 3rd July 2008 at Asako.
