Merrueshi
Primary School
Education
is the Key to Development and Poverty Eradication.
We
are connecting children with their dreams and creating agents
of change.
Click to
visit Maasai High School
Merrueshi
Primary School is in the Maasai region of Kenya, approximately
290 km southeast of Nairobi (capital city of Kenya) and 100
km north from the Kenya and Tanzanian boarder.
It
is the first and the only primary school run exclusively by
the Maasai people in Kenya.
Facilities
We
have 8 classrooms, administration block, 2 dormitory facilities
for boys and girls, a kitchen, and teachers' houses. The entire
school has power from solar energy.
Students
The
school started with 13 students in 1998, and by 2008, the
school has 260 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 six neighboring Maasai communities.
Teachers
The
school has eleven (11) teachers, all from the Maasai community.
Each
teacher has free housing accomodation 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
-
Education
with values of a good community
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.
Every
society, such as the Maasai, depends on its generations. Future
generations depend on efforts from fore generations. A successful
community depends on responsible and proud citizens, thus
depends on a community of good morale and values.
Today's
children are leaders for tomorrow. It is important to educate
Maasai children and enable them to make a strong contribution
to the ongoing needs of their 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.
Curriculum
The
most unique approach about the Merrueshi Primary School is the
western and Maasai integrated curriculum. Such approach has
never before been attempted.Following are subjects taught at
the Merrueshi Primary School.
-
Language
Skills: Maasai, Swahili, and English
-
Mathematics
-
Geography,
History & Civics
-
Maasai
oral literature and Traditions
-
Sciences
and Agriculture, and;
-
Pastoral
resource management
The
integration of western and Maasai educational learning systems
is vital to the survival of the Maasai people, following the
priorities, needs and interest of the Maasai community. Such
an integrated system allows Maasai children to contribute effectively
in this rapidly changing world.
Teachers's
salary is a community responsibility. Each villager with a child
in school has to sell a goat, sheep or cow, every three months,
to meet school fees for their children. Each child pays $120
dollars, tuition, per year. This amount is enough to cover tuition,
school uniform, lunch, and basic school supplies.
It
is mandatory for each child to wear school uniform in Kenya’s
public school.
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 located
five miles away from the school.
