Makutano primary school in Likuyani Sub County is set to undergo a Kshs 2 million facelift courtesy of Safaricom foundation. Speaking when he launched the second phase of classroom renovation, Mr. Magellan Otanga, an official from the giant mobile network provider who is also an alumni of the school regretted the deplorable state of classrooms at the institution.
He said it was disappointing that since the early 80s when he was still a pupil there, the institution which was among the best performing schools in the region has remained neglected by local leaders and has thus lost its glory.
“It’s so disappointing that almost four decades classrooms at this school still have dusty floors. It’s regrettable that the situation has led to many pupils being infested by jiggers,” said
Otanga.
He said after learning of the pathetic condition of the school, he applied for a grant from the Safaricom foundation through the ‘Pamoja Initiative’ in order to renovate the
classrooms.
He disclosed the ‘Pamoja Initiative’ was a Safaricom staff funding scheme under Safaricom foundation that provides opportunities for permanent employees to apply for funding for projects or causes they would like to support.
“The scheme has allowed staff to access funding of up to 1,000,000 with staff contributing 10% and the rest met by the Safaricom foundation. So I decided to apply and gave the 10% to help my former school and at the end of this second phase, the school will have received close to Kshs 2 million,” explained Otanga.
He said in the first phase the foundation gave Kshs 978, 240 which was used to renovate four classrooms and equipped them with desks, tables and chairs to be used by teachers.
The official disclosed that in the second phase the foundation has allocated Kshs. 1.1M towards renovation of another four classrooms.
Otanga, who has professed his interest in the Likuyani parliamentary seat in the August 8th general elections, pledged his continued support to the school to create an enabling learning environment for both teachers and pupils.
The school head teacher Mr. Peter Onyino thanked the sponsor Mr Otanga and the Safaricom foundation for the philanthropic gesture.
“I think with this facelift, the jigger menace will be confined to history in this school. Our children are now going to learn in a conducive environment, something which will now improve our performance,” he said, “Teaching children infested with jiggers has been a big problem because they don’t concentrate in class. From next year I can assure you this school is going to reclaim its position in academics,” said Onyino