The opening of the Sh.1.6 billion Nova Pioneer School in Uasin Gishu is a major boost for Eldoret town in its quest for city status in the near future.
The Ultra-modern educational complex that was completed in a record five months, is a partnership investment between Nova Pioneer Schools and the Local Authorities Pension Trust Fund (LAP TRUST).
The Nova Pioneer group of schools set foot in the city of champions in August 2019 when the ground breaking ceremony was done, and within five months, the project was officially handed to the schools management.
The project that sits on a 20-acre piece of land located near Annex will have a boys’ secondary school wing and a separate secondary school for girls situated within the same compound but each will function semi-autonomously with separate classrooms and administration blocks for the two units.
The schools will admit their first students in January 2020 according to Christopher Khaemba, Co-Founder and Director at Nova Pioneer Schools in Africa.
In addition, being in a city synonymous with world-class elite athletes, the Nova complex will have an all-weather tartan track for sporting activities. It will also have grounds for club activities apart from the modern classrooms set up with technology to enhance learning as well as modern boarding facilities.
Khaemba said the two boarding schools, like other Nova Pioneer schools, will offer the Kenya national curriculum delivered with world class teaching methods aimed at developing the character, capabilities and connection of its students as it prepares them to be leaders and innovators in the 21st century.
“Expanding into other parts of the country allows more families to access the local curriculum delivered to students with the future in mind and preparing them to be competitive globally,” added Khaemba during the official handing over of the schools on Monday.
The Early Learning and Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS), Dr. Belio Kipsang said by bringing in the aspect of innovation, entrepreneurship and critical thinking into the 8.4.4 curriculum in secondary school, Nova schools was re-orientating the national curriculum, a critical precursor to the Competency Based Curriculum( CBC) currently being implemented in the education system.
“Critical thinking is what we are focusing on in the 21st century, it forms the foundation of the CBC which focuses on skills competencies and ability to use knowledge acquired to make a difference in life and not to reproduce the knowledge to pass an examination,” said the PS
The Uasin Gishu Governor, Jackson Mandago said the development of the school was an indication of the level of confidence investors have in the county.
While challenging parents to invest in the education of their children, Mandago said the Nova Pioneer schools, will prepare students for the global stage.
“Kenyans are still lagging behind in terms of our presence in the global organisation. Most of those engaged in global agencies are largely from West and South Africa because the kind of education we currently offer our children is not giving them the global international thinking,” observed Mandago.
The Nova Pioneer school project is one of the many that have invested in Eldoret town within the last three years.
“Since the 2017 general elections, investors have injected more than Sh.10 billion into Eldoret, a clear indication of the faith they have in the region,” said Governor Mandago.
“Toyota Kenya has also set up a Sh.400 million multi-brand facility due to be opened early January, Safaricom company, as well set up its first call centre outside Nairobi in Eldoret,” he added.
By Kiptanui Cherono
