A school that recorded an astonishingly high number of Es in last year’s Form Four exams has been jolted out of slumber to stage an ambitious revival strategy aimed at improving grades this year.

Some 27 candidates of Machururiati Mixed Secondary School in Nyanza scored a mean grade of E, making it, at position 19 from bottom, among the worst performers in 2010 KCSE.

Now its sponsor, the Seventh Day Adventist Church, has teamed up with the community and political leadership to help reverse the school’s fortunes.A new headteacher and a deputy have been brought in, while funding is being sought to put up a modern library.The school had a standard mean score of 1.9852.

But while it is in a rural location in Kitutu Masaba constituency conducive for learning, residents have recently avoided enrolling their children because of poor leadership which led to indiscipline and drug abuse by students. Three-quarters of the female students are mothers.

Yet the school, with a current population of 150 students, has electricity, sufficient water and a nearby Machururiati Dispensary. It has enough space for expansion as well.But due to poor performance in national exams only 29 Form One students joined this year, although the number is expected to rise given the change in leadership.

In an effort to save face, the school’s board led by chairman Pastor Enock Ooga, and the Education ministry changed its head, now Mr Samuel Nyangena, deputised by Mrs Sibiah Isoe. They joined from Kebirigo and Nyambaria high schools respectively, with a brief to improve standards.According to Mr Nyangena, the institution has an acute shortage of teachers. Out of nine teachers, only six are posted by the TSC. The rest are paid by the board.

For long, the school has been without physics, religious studies, history and business education teachers, despite some registering for the subjects in the national exams.On Tuesday, Mr Nyangena said students with good marks in the KCPE avoided the school after selection.“We end up with those with low marks,” Mr Nyangena who was with area councillor Samuel Mosigisi, said.This year, for example, the school admitted 37 Form One students with marks ranging from 167 to 238 marks.

“We have a daunting task moulding students to score good marks at Form Four,” he said. “But we have set a target of scoring a mean score of C minus this year.”

Student exodus

The school has a problem of exodus of students to other schools they consider superior. For example seven Form Two students who were good performers last year joined other schools in Form Three this year.Absenteeism is chronic, as all learners are day scholars.

“It is complex since students usually stay with relatives who don’t closely monitor their progress,” Mr Nyangena added.Cases of unwanted pregnancy and students eloping with each other are common. But the school is currently counselling students every Wednesday to contain the immoral fabric.

“In fact three quarters of our female students are mothers and it is a challenge to manage education as well,” Mrs Isoe said. “In the past, cases of drunkenness among some students were reported, but due to counselling, we have managed the vice.”

Efforts to start remedial classes have not paid dividends since some parents are opposed to it. The school has no Library. It is difficult for students to keep text books and other belongings safely.

Its only laboratory is overstretched as science teachers have to carry out experiments at a time for various classes. The lab accommodates only 20 students at a time.“We are trying to pull together resources to construct lockers.

But we are disappointed with our Kitutu Masaba CDF officials who promised to advance us with Sh500,000 towards this goal to no avail,” Cllr Mosigisi lamented.

Floors of the school classrooms are dilapidated. The school has a lot of debt it owes suppliers who have threatened to sue, Mr Nyangena said.