President William Ruto has fulfilled the promise he made to Thika High School, in Thika Constituency, to support its ongoing infrastructural and educational development during the instution’s 70th anniversary in May this year.
The Head of State pledged the consideration of additional classrooms, a dormitory and a multipurpose hall as part of the school’s infrastructure development.
The President also pledged support for technology and talent where he praised the school’s plans to set up a Sports, Performing Arts and Digital Learning Centre focused on coding, robotics, and machine learning, aligning it with the government’s push for digital innovation and the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
During the celebrations, Ruto commended the school board, parents, and alumni for previous expansion projects and challenged schools to prepare students for a global economy driven by problem-solving and artificial intelligence.
On Wednesday, the President’s multimillion goodies were delivered to the school by the Deputy Head of Public Service Amos Gatheca and Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a.
The duo officiated the ground-breaking of a modern multipurpose hall and a 1,000-bed capacity dormitory. They also handed over new music instruments to the institution.
Gatheca noted that out of the eight promises that the President made to the school, six have been delivered adding that the remaining two including laptops for the schools digital learning center will be delivered.
“The multipurpose hall that is being put up here has a capacity of 2000 students and it’s one of the pledges by the President to the institution. The remaining ones will be fulfilled as well, the ICT Minister will soon deliver the laptops,” Gatheca said.
He quipped that the projects are being implemented for the welfare of the students and to give learners sufficient resources and a conducive environment to excel in their academic studies and extra-curricula activities.
“The government has initiated so many reforms in the education sector that are all geared towards elevating the country’s education system and ensuring that our institutions churn out competitive students. More programmes will be introduced to ensure that all Kenyan learners access quality education,” he noted.
On her part, Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a divulged that the area National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) will procure a modern school bus for the institution this financial year.
She reiterated that more development projects including addition of more classrooms, building of laboratory facilities, lavatories among others are being carried out in schools within the constituency in a bid to perk up education levels.
The MP hailed the President’s gesture saying that it demonstrates the government’s commitment to improve access to quality education for all Kenyan learners.
“I thank the President for keeping his promise and investing in the future of our children. When we invest in our schools, we invest in knowledge and the leaders of tomorrow,” she said.
Thika High School Chief Principal Julius Muraya hailed President Ruto for honouring his pledge noting that the projects will go a long way in creating an enabling environment for learners and staff.
He noted that this has motivated the 456 KCSE candidates at the institution and they expect better results at the National examinations.
Muraya at the same time thanked the institution’s alumni for the support accorded to the school over the years including infrastructural projects and sponsorships to needy learners.
“Our Alumni have been an important pillar for our school through projects, mentorship and sponsorships. They have facilitated fixing of cabros, construction of a dormitory unit, completion of the perimeter wall, mentorship to students and support for the less fortunate under the clarion call ‘No boy should be left behind’. We are grateful for their work,” Muraya said.
Founded in 1956, Thika High School has grown into a leading national institution with close to 2,000 students drawn from across the country.
