Reporting Day

This week Form I (freshman) students reported to both of our schools. Both St. Anthony’s and St. Monica’s are well performing schools, so many parents want their children to attend them.

When students register for the KCPE (Kenya Comprehensive Primary School Examination) they indicate four secondary schools they would like to attend. The results of this test determines which school they will attend. If a student receives appropriate marks, they get the school they want. At that point a calling (acceptance) letter is sent to the prospective students. If the family can afford the school fees, they are pleased and their next four years are determined.

However, for a multitude of reasons, perhaps because the school is too far, school fees too expensive, poor school reputation, etc. many parents are not happy with the school to which their child has been called. Then the parents scramble to find a place at what they deem is a good school. Our principals have been swamped with parents wanting a place for their child. The rumour among the teachers at St. Monica’s is that there have been over 400 parents requesting a place in the perhaps 50 openings.

Once the called Form I students report to school, if there are openings left, a second round of calling letters will be issued. What determines who will get these calling letters? The results of their KCPE, primary school attended, ability to pay fees, pleas of parents, priests, or influential people

Here is what Reporting Day is like.

When the parents and students enter the school compound they begin to wait in the first of many lines. The first queue (line) is to make sure they had paid the enrollment fees. At St. Monica’s they were required to pay half of the fees, about $350. If they couldn’t they were turned away. It was heartbreaking to see about 25 girls sent away for lack of fees. They have until Monday to raise the money. If they cannot, their spot is given to one of the lucky ones on the waiting list.

Next stop is the school supplies inspection. At St. Anthony’s they are to bring 12 exercise books (notebooks), 2 reams of copy paper, 1 ream of foolscap (looseleaf) paper, pens, geometric set, ruler, maths tables book, Swahili dictionary, English dictionary, Bible, and a couple of more books and folders.

Third stop dealt with school books. The students had to give a math, English, Kiswahili, French, CRE (religious education), biology, and a geography textbook, plus 2 to 3 short library books. If a boy did not have everything the parents had to sign a ledger with their phone number stating why their child was not cleared and when they would have the required materials.

Next was an explanation of school rules. The class (homeroom) teacher went over the rules explaining them in detail. These include such things as: no outside food, no outside clothes (they must always be in school uniform), no electronic equipment such as cameras, ipods, telephones, etc, must attend class and preps as scheduled, no fighting, drinking, etc. The rules were signed by the student and parent indicating that they understood them and knew that the consequences of not following them were expulsion from school.

The fifth stop was to check to see if they had personal items: 2 blankets, set of sheets, bedspread, toothpaste and tooth brush, bath and laundry soap, 6 pair of underwear, towel, pajamas, sleepers (flip flops), basin (to do laundry in), dish, cup, spoon, plus a few other odds and ends.

Next they talked to the school counselor. She covered personal and medical needs. They signed up for extracurricular activities such as sports, the religious group they want to attend on Thursday afternoon, and club to attend on Tuesdays.

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Finally they were assigned a dorm, class and student number. The last stop was to get their school uniforms. When they arrived they were wearing the primary school uniform. It was amazing to see the transformation when they came out wearing their new uniform. At that point, there were many smiling faces.