“Grace School is a major partner in provision of elementary education in conjunction with other public schools” said William Wachira. He is the Limuru education officer with the Kenyan Ministry of Education.
“Non – government schools like Grace School were significantly affected and even others closed down, when the new government introduced a major policy of free education in public schools,” Wachira said. In January, 2003, under newly elected President Mwai Kibaki, Kenya instituted free public education in place of its former system, which required tuition payments. As a result, Grace School, which then had a number of tuition-paying students, lost half its enrollment to the public schools.
“The government is very pleased with schools like Grace, which have remained focused despite an out-flux of many children,” Wachira said. “The facilities in public education are very stressed. The fact that Grace offers hot lunch to its pupils makes it all the more a better school. Grace has quality staff under the able leadership of Rev. Samuel Wambugu. We believe that it will be among the best schools when it is complete.” (The school is in the process of erecting a new classroom building. Three of nine rooms are finished.)
Nicholas Okeya, an Anglican lay official and director of Ruinet, a nonprofit organization which aids rural communities, praises the school also. “Grace school is now standing on a beautiful land with modern classrooms. Municipal council and education officials are now so proud of the school. Despite their meager resources, the Wambugus have indeed tried to help the needy children in this area by providing quality lunch and education.”
Both officials praised the school and the Wambugus for their reputation for compassion, high academic quality and their wise use of resources.
The level of education at Grace School is to prepare children to go on to high school. Others will be ready to go on to polytechnic schools to learn such trades as sewing, knitting, carpentry and motor mechanics. Children who leave Grace School are acceptable in any school due to their good behavior and superior intellectual ability.
Two medical teams from Knoxville, Tennessee (USA) have visited the Grace School since the autumn of 2002 and given the children check-ups. Both times, the teams found the children to be noticeably healthier in appearance than other children in the area. Led by nurse practitioner Dorothy Davison, recently retired from the University of Tennessee Medical Center, and Dr. Dale Betterton, the teams provided care for the children and their families, giving vitamins and medication for parasites. (Davidson and Betterton travel with the nonprofit International Medical Alliance, based in Knoxville, which takes medical and dental services abroad.)
“They (the school) provide a noonday meal for each child combining donated rice and beans with produce grown in Samuel’s garden,” said Davison. “This feeding program, plus our gift of vitamins obtained from Blessings International and biannual worming have made a marked difference in the student’s health.”
Grace School currently charges those students whose families are able to pay a tuition fee of $15 per three-month term. Grace conducts three of these terms each year: January - March, May - July, and September - November.
