Parents have rewarded a school with goodies worth Sh26.5 million shillings.

The parents at Vihiga had started an ambitious project to surprise the pupils at the Catholic-sponsored St Francis, Hambale way back in 2015.

With a number of fundraisers, the parents managed to raise a total of Sh 6.5million for a bus, and also put up a Sh 20 million three-storey classroom complex.

Handing over ceremony

Monday 18th, they handed over the two gifts to the school by the parents during a ceremony held at the institution located at the heart of Mbale town, the seat of Vihiga County.

The school that has both the boarding and day sections has consistently registered sterling results in the Kenya Primary Certificate Examination (KCPE).

In last year’s KCSE, the school topped in Vihiga Sub County with a mean score of 340 and fights for its academic space amid other giants such as Mululu primary, Mudasa Academy, Serve Academy and Shalom Academy.

Unanimous initiative

While handing over the bus and the storey building, Board of Management chairman Eng Kennedy Keseko said the idea to award the school was borne by the parents in 2015.

Eng Keseko said parents “unanimously offered to fully fund the initiative through individual contributions despite a government restriction on additional levies being extended on parents by schools”.

Good gesture

“Parents decided to reward the good the school has done in instilling knowledge and discipline in children. That is why they are here to give this good gesture, a sign of their appreciation,” said Eng Keseko.

He went on: “The storey building has a library, 12 classrooms and a computer lab. We are giving back to the school for giving us good results.”

Zero tolerance on cheating

“Our school does not condone cheating in examination. Parents fully funded the two projects. We (parents) are now mulling buying a parcel of land that is adjacent to the school to enable the school expand,” added Eng Keseko, who is also the Lands executive in the county.