Kisumu Boys’ High School management has called upon stakeholders to intervene and help the school rebuild as the student population overwhelms infrastructure.
The calls come as the student population hit 2, 300, in what the management say has exerted a lot of pressure on the available facilities.
Established in the late 1940s, the school has had an indelible mark in the academic history of the region.
However, most of the infrastructure in the school is old, and not enough to hold the ever-growing population.
According to Principal Austine Muma, the surge in population has seen the school turn some classrooms into dormitories to accommodate some students.
The school was a centre of excellence in terms of infrastructure and class. This is a category A school, but it has been there for a while, meaning the kind of infrastructure that we have, has lived for long, so the need for reconstruction, and expansion
Principal Austine Muma
He however noted that the school has put in place resource mobilization strategies for the planned upgrade of the institution.
“The school was a centre of excellence in terms of infrastructure and class. This is a category A school, but it has been there for a while, meaning the kind of infrastructure that we have, has lived for long, so the need for reconstruction, and expansion,” said Muma.
He noted the support of the old boys whom he said had a lot of interest in seeing the school grow.
Leadership transition
Mr Mua who took over the school’s leadership role early this year has pledged to lead both academic and infrastructural transformation of the school, noting that both had experienced some lapse.
“We have been operating at a mean grade of 7 in the national examinations, and this being a category A school, with students’ entry marks at 320 in kcpe, from the very onset, all of them should manage to score grades which qualify for university entry,” he said.
“I want to believe that this school should move to mean grade of 9. And in terms of infrastructure, I want to believe that we will make it better so that the school is a source of pride to its alumni and the entire community,” he added.
“I want to appeal to any heart that has a feeling for this school to join this journey, especially key stakeholders who want to see the school shine, both in performance and appearance,” he noted.
Deputy Principal Duya noted that due to limited space, the school was looking into bringing down some of the old structures so as to put up story buildings.
Currently, the school has brought down a structure that hosted the staff room and has begun construction of two-story classrooms.
The temporary structure is also not enough to host the over 90 teachers in the school.
“We had to put up a temporary structure to host the staff room. The only space we have is upwards, and we are looking for support to rebuild the school,” said Duya.
The teachers spoke during a Family Sunday on March 23, a day the school dedicates for spiritual nourishment to celebrate God’s protection.