Date of Visit: 30 June 2025
Subtitle: Fifty Learners Master Russian Sounds Amidst Stagnant Water and Promise
Introduction: The First “Spasibo”
On 30 June 2025, fifty voices at Entanda Primary & Junior Secondary School harmonized in a first for this Kisii County institution: “А Б В Г Д!” The rhythmic chant of the Russian alphabet echoed through unfinished tiled classrooms—a symbol of both aspiration and arrested development. Path to Russia’s cultural workshop ignited curiosity, even as learners navigated potholed floors and mosquito-infested puddles.
The School: Progress Interrupted
Founded in 1967, this government-sponsored school serves 324 learners (163 boys, 161 girls) with just 13 teachers. Recent constituency-funded classrooms stand gleaming yet incomplete:
- Modern Rooms, Missing Basics: Eight tiled classrooms lack doors, lockers, and commissioning.
- Digital Desert: One desktop computer and two printers strain to serve the entire school.
Headteacher Gladys Ong’era summarized: “We have lightbulbs but no labs; connectivity without capability.”
Cultural Fireworks: When Curiosity Ignites
Against infrastructural odds, the 90-minute session sparked transformation:
- Alphabet Mastery: Learners decoded the 33 Cyrillic letters with rapid fluency, proudly concluding with “спасибо!” (thank you).
- Teacher Mobilization: English teacher Erick Kebaso volunteered to lead a Russian club, while alumna Merceline Onyiego pledged: “I returned to this village to open doors I never had.”
Board Chair Samuel Ombui Mecha, witnessing the energy, declared: “This is why we fight for better infrastructure—to house these dreams.”
Sobering Contrasts: The Walls Around Potential
- Health Hazards
- Stagnant Water: Donated tanks collect rain but lack taps/drainage, creating mosquito breeding grounds.
- Sanitation Crisis: Crumbling washrooms undermine dignity for girls and staff.
- Learning Barriers
- Empty Stomachs: No student kitchen—learners walk long distances home for lunch, missing afternoon classes.
- Digital Ghost Town: No ICT lab or trained teacher, rendering electricity and Wi-Fi useless.
- Security Risks
Partial fencing leaves equipment vulnerable to theft.
Path Forward: Bridging the Gap
Entanda’s unmet needs demand targeted intervention:
- Complete Classrooms: Install doors, lockers, and commission new buildings.
- Eradicate Stagnant Water: Build drainage systems and tap points.
- Launch Feeding Program: Retain afternoon learners with on-site meals.
- Activate Digital Learning: Donate computers and train ICT teachers.
- Sustain Cultural Momentum: Provide Russian posters and virtual exchanges.
“These children grasped Russia in minutes,” observed Headteacher Ong’era. “Imagine what they’d do with proper walls and tools.”
Conclusion: The Unfinished Symphony
Entanda’s unfinished classrooms mirror its learners’ suspended potential. The Russian alphabet session proved their readiness for global connection—but without functioning facilities, their voices risk fading. By completing physical spaces while nurturing cultural curiosity, we can transform this school into a beacon of what’s possible when ambition meets investment.
