I joined Turbo Girls in July 2021 as the Computer Studies teacher. At the time, only Form Two students were taking the subject after a long break, and the new Form Ones hadn’t been admitted yet. There were 80 Form Twos, but no computer lab—just a few outdated machines. I managed to repair four of them and turned a small room next to the Home Science lab into a makeshift computer lab.
The students had a weak foundation in the subject, and our 20-seater lab was far from ideal. But we made it work. Then, in November 2021, something changed. I was called to the Deputy Principal’s office (Mrs. Mochama) to meet a visitor—Mr. Job Amwoga from Camara Education Kenya. We had a long and meaningful conversation about Camara and how they support schools. It was clear their solutions could really help us, and our principal agreed.
Once we got the green light, excitement spread among the students. We started preparing for a new lab. I did the survey work myself—it was long and demanding, but I knew how much we needed it. The new lab was launched in the first quarter of 2022. Soon after, a week-long training was held for teachers from our school and neighboring ones. Then our students started using the new facility, and it made a huge difference.
Two months before the lab opened, we selected students who would continue with Computer Studies through to Form Four. Some dropped out early—some lacked confidence, others felt they couldn’t catch up. In the end, I had 14 students.
In 2023, those 14 students sat for the KCSE exam. They completed their seven-month computer project and handled the three-hour practical exam with confidence. Their results made us proud, earning a mean score of 8.42 (B minus).
|
GRADE |
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
|
Students |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
Today, we have 23 Form Fours and 15 Form Threes in Computer Studies. We expect over 25 Form Twos to join, selected from the current 103 students. The interest is growing fast—this year, we admitted over 650 Form Ones, and 120 of them have taken up Computer Studies. Our current lab is stretched, and we may need a second one to meet the demand without disrupting learning for senior students.
This journey has been full of challenges, but also full of growth and learning. We’re grateful to Camara Education, especially Mr. Job and Mr. Peter, for believing in our story and helping bring it to life. Thank you.
