TAITA TAVETA — At Kipusi Comprehensive School, every morning begins with a cruel economic calculation: a daily lunch fee of Sh30. For families living hand-to-mouth in Taita-Taveta County, that modest amount determines whether a child attends school hungry or stays home altogether.
That stark reality greeted education stakeholders on Monday as they fanned out across the county for the Elimu Fanaka school immersion exercise, held ahead of International Literacy Day.
Trading conference halls for frontline experience, participants departed Voi at 8:40 a.m. bound for 10 partner primary institutions: Mwakingali, Gimosi, Marungu, Ikanga, Kighombo, Kipusi, Wusi, Mghambonyi, Mbulia, and Kalambe. The delegation quickly discovered that improving literacy requires far more than distributing textbooks; it demands addressing the systemic poverty surrounding the classroom.
At Kipusi, which serves roughly 300 students, economic hardship directly impacts attendance. Yet amid the challenge, progress is visible. The school boasts a library established by Elimu Fanaka, complete with weekly literacy programming, internet access, a desktop computer, and a state-supplied smartboard. While educators report higher student engagement, chronic shortages of writing supplies and Kiswahili readers persist.
An hour away, Mwakingali Comprehensive illustrates the strain of rapid growth. Established in 1965, the institution now serves 1,075 students from early childhood through junior secondary level. While staffed by 28 Teachers Service Commission educators, infrastructure has failed to keep pace. Sanitation conditions have triggered formal health notices, requiring students and staff to haul drinking water from off-site. With many parents surviving on casual labor, meal contributions lag, often forcing teachers to pay out-of-pocket for sick children.
“These are not isolated cases,” noted one participant during the delegation tour. “In one school the urgent need is a dormitory; in another, it is basic sanitation, water, or foundational books.”
Despite infrastructure deficits, creative learning remains a vital lifeline. Across the visited institutions, music, drama, and storytelling continue to drive engagement. At Gimosi Comprehensive, Elimu Fanaka’s intervention helped resolve power challenges, while teacher workshops have measurably improved classroom interaction.
The day concluded at Kalambe Comprehensive School, where County Executive for Education Dishon Mngoda officially commissioned a new school library. Addressing parents, educators, and students, Mngoda commended Elimu Fanaka founder Kazi Mghendi for targeted local investment.
“Someone who gives your child a book is helping you more than one who gives you money,” Mngoda stated.
To sustain the momentum, Elimu Fanaka has partnered with local broadcaster Sifa FM Voi to launch a community-wide book donation drive. Stakeholders will gather Tuesday at Dan Mwazo Hall in Voi for formal International Literacy Day proceedings, shifting focus from initial field observations to long-term policy solutions.
