Nation Media Group (NMG) on March 22, 2019 donated textbooks to pupils at Murumba Mixed Primary School in Ugunja, Siaya County, as part of its corporate social investment activities. Staff from the Kisumu bureau and Nairobi office, led by Regional Editor Caroline Wafula, took part in giving out books. The visit was also meant to motivate the 612 pupils at the school to aim higher in their academic performance.
The event was held ahead of the 2019 Nation Classic Golf Series that took place at the Kisumu Golf Club on March 23rd, 2019. Ms. Wafula together with Corporate Affairs Manager Ms. Kinya Gitonga, said the company seeks to positively influence the society through its various platforms and to impact communities by giving back through its corporate social investment initiatives.
Citing NMG’s Newspaper in Education (NiE) programme, Ms. Wafula said education remains dear to Nation Media Group and that it is dedicated to improving the literacy levels in the country. She said this was part of the reason the media house recently set up an education desk to ensure that education issues receive adequate coverage. “This is our contribution towards creating an empowered nation. So we do not want you to stop your education at primary school level. Go on studying to the highest level you can after this; the sky is the limit”, Ms. Wafula told the pupils.
Murumba mixed Primary School is one of the oldest schools in the area and was built in 1974 with only 20 students at the time and has since grown in leaps and bounds. The administration, led by the head teacher Peter Apasamong, said the school had had problems purchasing textbooks since the government reduced the text book fund. “It has been a long time since we received a large batch of textbooks in the school and given that the lifespan of these textbooks is 1-2 years, it has been difficult to get funds replace the books because the pupils are from humble backgrounds”, said Mr Kirabu.
The head teacher further said that the main challenge they were facing was the high HIV prevalence in the area that have led to many children dropping out of school to head their families after the death of their guardians while many parents do not value girl child education. “I want to encourage parents to invest in their daughters because educating one girl is like educating a whole nation. Do not allow any man to mess with your female children”, urged Mr Kirabu.