For many years, pupils in rural schools have had difficulty in communicating in English owing to the environment in which they are raised where mother tongue takes lead.

This has had a negative impact on the performance of these pupils in languages and other subjects that are always taught in English.

However, one teacher in Nakuru West sub county has taken up the burden of bridging this gap that will see such pupils have a command of the English language.

When he stepped at Heshima Primary School in Nakuru West in January 2023 as the institution’s head, Mr. Christopher Mutai did not know the challenge the well-structured school was having in terms of language.

A section of classrooms in Heshima primary school.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI/MTAA WANGU

Owing to the rural informal settlement in which the school is situated, he states that he found out that the pupils were unable to communicate in English.

The school that has a population of 2,500 primary school learners, 200 ECD learners and 46 members of staff, was started in 2006 as a way of decongesting the neighboring Kaptembwo Primary School.

Though the school sits in a cosmopolitan sub county of Nakuru, majority had perfected their vernacular language as a form of communication.

In an exclusive interview with Mtaa Wangu, Mr. Mutai says he saw this as a major challenge prompting him to call a meeting between stakeholders among them parents, teachers, discipline committee and administrators.

The meeting saw the introduction of the first language policy in the school all with one mission- to help the learners improve their language skills.

“Our children were unable to read and we thought it wise to start the English language policy in this institution,” he says.

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The policy according to Mr. Mutai involves communication in English among learners on Monday to Thursday, during which they have debates on various topics, while on Friday they speak in Swahili.

The head teacher is quick to note that since the inception of the policy at the school, a great improvement has been recorded in various subjects.

He adds that such a policy will go a long way in helping improve even the performance of learners in the school.

“We know that apart from Kiswahili, the rest of the subjects are taught in English and therefore if they cannot communicate in English, then it becomes a language barrier. But we are optimistic that as time goes by the pupils will improve until we are ranked among the best in the country,” he says.

Luckily, parents at the school have welcomed the move.

Led by John Lumula-a parent of two learners at the school, the parents agree that the policy is in order and should be embraced in all schools in rural areas.

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Pristone Mambili