Wahundura High School

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Welcome to Wahundura High School Website. My name is Irungu Nduati and I am the current Principal of the school. I joined Wahundura High School on 15 February 2009. Previously I was the deputy Principal of Nyeri High School and before that I was the head of the languages department at Mang’u High School.

PRINCIPALS’ MESSAGE – 2011

Three years ago, several likeminded individuals driven by a passion and desire to see young people in this country succeed, set out for what looked like a mission impossible. The mission was to actualize our five year strategic plan and try not only to achieve it, but also surpass the set targets. Two years down the line and as a teacher, I can give our mid-term report.

When we set our strategic plan, we had five strategic objectives and I would wish to review them in their order of relative importance to us. The first strategic objective was improvement and maintenance of good discipline. At the time of developing our strategic plan, the discipline of the school was to say the least – wanting. As a body, we set out to root out indiscipline owing to our understanding of the fact that discipline lies at the heart of all genuine achievements.

We have introduced student barazas where the students share their views and their problems are solved at the source. In these barazas, we have been able to develop very innovative solutions to the problems in the school. In addition, we have inculcated an open door policy where students are free to approach the principal and any other teacher without fear. This has meant that there is a very close relationship between the teachers and the students.

The students also have a very effective suggestion box through which they give inputs into how the school is run. The teachers are also able to access the principal at any time without bottlenecks. We also have the student electing their own prefects and this has given them a sense of ownership and participation.

Our counseling programs have been highly intensified. We have had some of the best counselors in the country come and speak to the students. We have entertained Miss Morgan and the Tahidi High crew, Daddy Owen and the K-Krew group, Mr. Mukuria of Coro F.M., Dr. Gonye, Mr. Kinyanjui, Fr. Cyril and many other renowned and much sought after counselors. We have established a highly effective interview panel to conduct background checks on new students and we have revised our punitive measures. All these have borne fruit. We have had two very smooth years and we expect to get even better years. We are on course for excellence in performance.

Our second strategic objective was improved and sustained performance. Our mean standard score has stagnated at C-. We believe we have the capacity for doing even better than this. However academic performance is more like a marathon rather than a sprint. In this regard therefore, we are yet to see the result of what we have set out to do.

However, the following measures have been put in place. To begin with, we have established very good relationship between the teachers and the students and we have agreed on programs to be undertaken. Year 2010 candidates had set for themselves a mean standard score of 6.5. We believe they will get there or at least near there.

The year 2011 Form fours have already met and set a target of 8.0. We are supporting them fully to achieve these targets. We have established a very effective remedial program with the support of our parents. Our target is to finish the form four syllabuses by June of every year to enable more time for revision. Last year, we were able to achieve this and this year, we intend to better that. In addition, we have fully embraced I.C.T. to improve content delivery and to reduce inefficiency. We have hundreds of revision materials and test papers which help our students in their revision work. Moreover, we have computerized our time tabling and our academic reports.

To complement the students’ academic pursuits, we have introduced more games. We have put up a basketball court and our basketball team is the reigning district champions. We have introduced rugby in 2011 and we have a very enthusiastic team. We have very good swimmers that have the capacity of representing central province at the national swimming competitions.

Every year, we have the stakeholders getting together to interact. Last year, we launched our school website and this year we intend to have a prize giving and speech day. In addition, we have developed very strong motivational mechanisms where the top performers have parties and trips and the quality grades at K.C.S.E. are handsomely rewarded. Last year, the top performers went to Nanyuki, where they swam and used the Sauna, steam bath and Jacuzzi at Sportsman Arms Hotel.

The non teaching staff had a similar treat while the teachers had a sleep over at Morindat Training Centre in Naivasha. We have held highly successful subject days in the school and we have benchmarked with all the top performing schools in the region including Alliance, Mangu, Nyeri High, Bishop Gatimu, Kagumo, Kahuhia, Mugoiri among many others through contests and symposiums. We have built our management on team work and recently, we have been able to acquire a modern photo printer and photo copier to enable the better revision and more testing.

Our third strategic objective was improving the school cooperate image. The school had developed a very negative image and it was an enormous task to change this image. To begin with, we have renovated the existing infrastructure. We have refaced and repainted our classrooms, dining hall and dormitories. We have also renovated the Physics laboratory which had not been working for over twenty years. We have been involved in community initiative including visiting children’s homes, cleaning markets and hospitals and teaching Sunday school.

We have been involved in Co-curricular activities at the national levels with our music team participating at the National Music Festivals in Kakamega in 2010. We have also been to the best schools in the country and our teams are able to play with the likes of Mang’u and Alliance High Schools. We have acquired a new school bus which was designed by the students and is rated by the Insyder magazine as among the best school buses.

We have also changed the school uniform and are in the process of introducing blazers for the senior students. We have made the school become a recreational centre and have hosted youth and sports camps during school holidays in addition to sports competition during the term. In 2010 the school hosted central province for the provincial games.

Our forth strategic objective was to improve infrastructure. We have worked extremely hard at improving our facilities. We have developed a fully operational I.C.T. section and our computers are effectively networked. We have computers in all our departments in the school. We have started a facelift of the administration block with the principal’s office getting a new floor.

We have refurbished the laboratories and they have a new look. We have fenced the school effectively reducing cases of insecurity. We are in the process of developing a physical plan for the school. We have worked with the students to landscape and beautify the school. We have endeavored to improve our environment by planting many trees in and around the school.

We have improved our lighting system and we have security lights at the gate and other strategic areas. We have also renovated the teachers’ houses and have revived the old generator. We have also acquired a 32 inch plasma screen T.V for the students’ entertainment.

Our final strategic objective was improving the school financial base. Without this, we will not be able to achieve our other objectives. We have been able to improve fees collection and reduce default rates. Last year, our default rate was Kshs. 600,000 down from 2.2 million in 2008. We have also increased students enrolment to a projected 400 in 2011. We also have several income generating activities in the school.

The school has acquired five heifers and disposed of the bulls. By 2012, we intend not to buy milk. We have also acquired two pigs and we have two piglets. We are in the process of converting the waste into biogas for use in the school kitchen. We have worked at optimal use of the school farm and have planted bananas, lots of Napier grass, onions and cabbages. We have also constructed a bakery and thus we are able to give bread to our students everyday as well as sell some to the locality.
In conclusion, our mid-term report has surpassed most if not all expectations.

I wish to thank:
- God, the Almighty, without whom we would have achieved: nothing

- Our very able B.O.G. under the Chairmanship of Mr. Samuel Mwaniki who have carried the vision and pushed us to believe that it can be done.

-The P.T.A. and all Parents under Mr. Ngunjiri who have believed in us and supported all our endeavors and paid fees on time.

- My colleague the teachers who have worked tirelessly to make this success possible.

- Our wonderful students who have been excellent in everything.

- The Area M.P. who has kept all of us on our toes and wants us to be the best.

- The Education Office especially the P.D.E., Mr. Nyagosia, the Deputy P.D.E. Mr. Kaburu and the very supportive D.E.O. Mr. Mukabi all of whom have supported, encouraged and guided me telling me that it can be done.

- Our Sponsor, Bishop Isaac Ng’ang’a, who has always been there for us even at a very short notice.

-All our friends, supporters, competitors, and even our enemies who have made us realize that we are human and have helped us stay focused and humble.

To all of you I say May God bless you as we make Wahundura “Arise and Shine”                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

Irungu Nduati

principal@wahundurahighschool.org