Maweni Primary School is located in the Kongowea slum north of Mombassa town. Founded in 1986 by a local Reverend it started with 35 students and 3 teachers. Quickly it became a centre for excellence within the local district and in the late 1990s/early 2000 was ranked, by academic achievement, as one of the top schools in Kenya.
While laudable at a macro level, the advent of Free Primary Education (FPE) has been devastating within the context of Maweni. Huge numbers of students flocked to the school on the announcement of FPE, bringing a 200% increase in students with no additional government resources as regards staff or infrastructure. The grounds, once renowned for their gardens, are now almost barren and academic achievement has plummeted. The average KCPE (Kenyan Certificate of Primary Education) results dropped almost 50%, from 415 to 211.
Maweni has received a grant from the local MPs constituency fund for building a secondary school on the site, however no additional funding has been set aside for improving the infrastructure of the primary school. Maweni Primary School
Amos M. Chivumbe (Head Teacher)
School Population: 1,320
Staff: 20
KCPE Results
2006 204
2007 216
2008 182
2009 211 |
Suas has been working with Maweni since 2005. Our relationship was initiated through our volunteer programme, but as the relationship developed Suas has deepened its partnership with Maweni. Two infrastructure projects have been completed, based on the priorities of the Maweni staff; a perimeter wall to create a safer learning environment, and a kitchen for daily student meals.
The sharp drop in KCPE results in 2008 can be attributed to tragic post-election violence, and a large amount of migration in the Maweni catchment area.
  
Since 2006, through the support and efforts of our friends and colleagues at the Kenyan School Improvement Programme (KENSIP), Suas and Maweni have been working off the school's Whole School Plan. The long term aim of this plan is to put Maweni in a position to provide an excellent education to its large population.
Suas and Maweni increased community engagement and improved school security, particularly through the work of the schools committee that involves senior management, teachers and parents.
The current focus is to provide supports for the most needy of the children. Potential projects currently under discussion include: - Feeding Programme for poor and orphaned children who attend Maweni (now in place)
- Providing sanitary towels for female students
- Health camps for school where a doctor would visit the school and be available for consultation
- Refurbishing and resourcing the school library
- Building new toilet blocks for the nursery and junior students
- Developing a special needs unit
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