"Pretty much every visitor is shocked by how secluded we are in the bush. All of a sudden, these incredible buildings appear, with bright colors and modern design. Kids playing, surrounded by lush trees and the sound of birds. No traffic or noise. People are just blown away. And with reason. It´s a magical place."
- Founder Lindsay Sanner
A unique school in rural Kenya
Eco Moyo Education Centre is a private primary school, located 2 hours north of Mombasa, in a rural area called Ezamoyo.
We follow the national curriculum and are registered with the Kenyan Private School Association. Our teachers are certified by national standards and registered with The Teachers Service Commission.
As of 2022, 240 students from Dzunguni village receive free education. All students are provided with the following:
- Nutritious porridge for breakfast
- Nutritious lunch
- Uniforms and PE Kits
- Textbooks and all school material needed
Our ten acre plot includes the following facilities:
Eight classrooms, four school toilets, sports field, office and storage room, staff room, school kitchen, three staff units for our teachers and a dormitory with space for 20 students (used by the 11 remaining boarding school students).
The parents contribute with volunteering one day each month with various chores that need doing around the school premises.
Our Students
Dzunguni village is extremely poor and most of the students live in mud houses without electricity or running water.
The majority of our students belong to the Giriama tribe. Many of the parents have not received education themselves and speak only the tribal language.
In order to attend our school, they must live within the geographical boundary of our village (with the exception of the now 11 remaining children we have brought from Mombasa, who have been with us since 2013).
On average our classes have 25 students per teacher. We start the day with reading storybooks in groups and practice hand writing before porridge is served.
At the end of each term we conduct a meeting with the parents, student and teacher to discuss the student´s development.
Objectives
Provide nutritious meals for students and staff members.
Maintain manageable class sizes.
(max 30 students per teacher)
Engage the learners in creative work and encourage development of practical skills.
Offer extra curricular activities that focus on taking care of the environment.
Introduce computer classes for all students.
Help each student realize their potential in a safe and caring environment.
Inspire our students to become independent thinkers and responsible team players.
Education in Kenya
Since 2003, education in public schools has been free. However, many cannot afford to buy uniforms and pay for exams. Often children need to help their parents make a living.
Even for those who are able to attend school, the quality of public education is so poor and they do not perform well on their final exams. A large number of students therefore do not continue to secondary school and are left idle at home. However, times are changing..
Kenya is finally reforming its education system for the first time in 32 years. The current system is highly academic and examination-oriented and essentially is failing to produce school-leavers who are ready for the world of work.
The new curriculum will try to develop vocational and technical skills in a bid to meet Kenya’s demand for skilled labor and its push for greater industrialization.
More practical learning and less exams are what hopefully awaits us now that the new plan is being tested around the country. Teachers will need additional training and learning materials will change.