Pupils in the local Church Hall. Buildings can greatly improve access to education in Turkana.

Nakabosan Primary School in the arid Turkana South District has no physical structures. It has no classrooms, offices, or even toilets. But it has the will of the local community, and the determination of its two teachers who handle three classes. "Classes are held under a tree. This means we can only teach up to late morning. The classes begin at 6.30am and end at 11.30am," says John Egielan Ekaliban, the founder teacher.

"I accepted the job as a challenge", John says. The school is an initiative of the local community. "The local community petitioned the District Commissioner (DC) for a school. The DC passed the request to the District's Education Office. The District Office in turn asked me to start the school".

"When I was transferred to the school, the DC called a public meeting and introduced me to the community. Nobody from the locality had ever gone to school. In 2006, I admitted the first Standard One class with 15 pupils," John recalls.

"I borrowed a chalkboard from the nearby Catholic Parish. I then started holding classes under a tree. We sometimes use a Church hall when it is available but with the school growing to three classes, it means some classes have to be held under trees."

One of the incentives to have the pupils in schools is the government funded School Feeding Programme. "Under the programme, the school is able to provide porridge for breakfast, lunch and an early supper. This has helped keep the boys in school because they get food and escape the tough job that is livestock herding," John says.

Girls dropping out
It is a different story for girls. "Some of the girls I admitted in 2006 were as old as twelve. The usual age for Standard One entrance is seven. After a year, four of the girls were married off. Two others were uncomfortable with seating on the earth since the school has no furniture. Out of the nine girls I admitted in 2006, only three are still in school," John revealed.

Despite the challenges the school has grown in numbers. In 2007, it admitted 86 pupils in Standard One and this year, it admitted 115. There are two teachers in the school – John andanother teacher. Still, it is tough for two teachers to handle three elementary classes which require attention all the time. So getting more teachers is important. But not many teachers want to work there.

The school which is along the Kapenguria-Lodwar Road (part of the great northern corridor road) could attract teachers if it had houses for teachers. John says he and the other teacher have to spend the nights with the community away from the school for security reasons.

The greatest security risks are raiders from the neighbouring Pokot community. There are also marauding Turkana youths who are armed. "These youths sometimes raid the school and take away the food supplied by the school feeding programme," John says.

Buildings, buildings, buildings
Having buildings will solve many problems facing the school. "If we have classrooms with basic furniture – that is desks and chairs, we can have longer learning periods and we don't have to suspend classes when it rains as we do now, " John says longingly.

"We also need toilets. At the moment, we all go to the bush and it can be embarrassing to meet your pupils helping themselves in the bush or pupils finding their teachers helping themselves. This also poses health risks," John reflects.
"Another priority is a kitchen. Food is prepared in the open at the moment and this poses health risks as well because dust blows into the food. There is also a need for a store for the food to keep it safe from raiders and the elements," John says.

In short, buildings are a priority for Nakabosan Primary School. John also longs for the day he will have dormitories for the pupils. The Turkana are nomadic pastoralists. This means they move in search of water and pasture for their livestock. And when the parents move, the children move too. This disrupts learning. With dormitories, the children would not have to disrupt their learning.

Even with all the odds the community has to contend with, parents have shown determination to sustain the school. They, for example, gave Kshs20 each to buy textbooks which are another challenge.

With Kshs500,000 the school which is now registered by the Ministry of Education can build one classroom. By next year, the school will need five classrooms. It also needs an office for teachers, a food store, kitchen, houses for teachers, and toilets. Dormitories would be jewel on the crown.

John is a Turkana. He grew up in Lodwar, which was the district headquarters for Turkana District. In 1987, he was admitted to Maseno School where he studied until his father who was paying his fees passed away in 1988. Luckily, he got a Good Samaritan to pay for his education at Lodwar Secondary School.

He then attended Asumbi Teacher's College before joining the Red Cross as a volunteer. He eventually got a job with the government and was posted to Turkana Integrated School – a school for the physically handicapped. It is from here that he was posted to Nakabosan. John is currently attending a diploma in Education Management at Strathmore University. The course runs when schools are closed.