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Merrueshi Primary School

Education is the Key to Development and Poverty Eradication.

Students| Teachers| Management| Ethics| Philosophy| Curriculum|

 


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 
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

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.

Tuition

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 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 located five miles away from the school.

 

 

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Graphic design, data architecture, technical implementation by Ole Maimai,

 

News

2007 was another successful year for Merrueshi Primary School. The school earned position 3 out of 50 public schools in Kajiado District.

Maasai School has been made possible by funding from well-wishers like you. Thank you for your continued support.

With funding support from well-wishers the Maasai Association provided Merrueshi School with physical facilities, school supplies such as textbooks, pencils, desks, and is paying school fees for over 50 primary and secondary school children from low income families.

Maasai Children Education Fund (MCEF)

Interested sponsors can now fund education for a child, boy, girl ,or either, in the Merrueshi Primary School. For $120 you can put a child through school for one year. Your contribution of any amount is welcomed, as everything counts. Your support will make education more attainable to a Maasai child, who otherwise would have not attended school. Click to download MCEF form.
 

School Archives

Click to read news for 2006