Merrueshi Primary School

Education is the Key to Development

Students|

|Curriculum|

Sports

|Management|

Teachers

Ethics

Philosophy

 

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We are connecting children with their dreams and creating agents of change for the Maasai people.

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Merrueshi Primary School is in the Maasai region of Kenya, approximately 160 km southeast of Nairobi, Kenya and 100 km north of the Kenya and Tanzanian border. The entire school was build by Maasai Association.

It is the first and the only primary school run exclusively by the Maasai people in Kenya.

Facilities

• Eight classrooms
• A kindergarten/ Nursery schoolroom
• Administration block
• Two dormitory facilities (one for boys and one for girls)
• Kitchen
• Teachers' houses

The entire school has clean running water and electricity generated from solar panels.

Students

The school started with 13 students in 1998, and by 2010, the school has 350 students, boys and girls. The girls constitute 60% percent of school enrollment. The students range from 4 to 13 years of age. With new dormitory facilities 30% of our studetns are boarders from all over Maasai land. The school has been a model of success for the entire Kajiado District. In 2010 Merrueshi Primary School was rated the best boarding school in Kajiado. Since 2006 over 100 students have graduated successfuly and joined high schools in different parts of Kenya.

Curriculum

The most unique approach about Merrueshi Primary School is the western and Maasai integrated curriculum. Such approach has never before been attempted. Following are subjects taught at Merrueshi Primary School. 

• Languages: Maasai, Swahili, and English
• Mathematics
• Geography, History & Civics
• Sciences and Agriculture

Extra curricula activities

• Drama, music, and dance
• Maasai oral literature and Traditions

The integration of western and Maasai educational learning systems is vital to the successof the Maasai people, following the priorities, needs and interest of the Maasai community. Such an integrated learning system allows Maasai children to be effective locally and outside Maasai boundary.

Tuition

Each villager with a child in school has to sell a goat, sheep or cow, every three months, for boarding fees, uniform, desk, and extra learning materials for his/ her child. These items cost each parent an estimated $120 a year. It is mandatory for each child to wear school uniform in Kenya’s public schools. More recently our school has received some subsidies for textbooks from the government. However, the amount received is hardly enough to buy textbook for each student. Between two and three students are assigned to share a textbook.

Lunch Program

Lunch is served to students every day, five days a week.  Without this program most students would not be able to attend afternoon classes, as many of them live in villages five miles away from the school.

Sports

• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Netball
• Running

Teachers

The school has eleven (11) teachers. Maasai Association employs 50% of the teachers. The government pays the rest. Teachers have free housing accommodation with running water. Most schools in Kenya do not provide free housing for teachers.

Management

The school is managed by a committee, a group of 12 men and women, collectively appointed by members of Merrueshi community. Each community member participates in the decision-making processes including the evaluation of teaching methodologies and school projects.

Community members work to achieve the following:

• Community empowerment through Western and Maasai integrated learning system
• Global awareness
• Education that is culturally sensitive to the Maasai way of life

Merrueshi Primary School is rated top 5 best schools in Kajiado Central

Ethics

The community encourages self-discipline rather than discipline through foreign rules. Younger students are encouraged to become positive role models for future generations. This idea cultivates the Maasai traditional principle of intergenerational support system. 

Philosophy

The Maasai depends on its generations. Future generations depend on efforts from fore generations. A successful community depends on responsible and proud citizens. Maasai Association strive to see this in the all Maasai school.

Today's children are leaders for tomorrow. Our aim is to educate Maasai children and enable them to make a strong contribution to the ongoing needs of the Maasai community.This philosophy nurtures the values of a strong community.

The Merrueshi Primary School is not affiliated with any religious or political organization, and does not discriminate against gender, race, color, or religion.

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