The schooling situation in Kenya is still in flux, but we have several updates for you.

In the second half of October, the Kenyan Ministry of Education told all Form Four students (high school seniors) to return to their schools. The Ministry also announced that the national graduation exam (KCSE—Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) will be administered in March 2021.

We are happy to report that 43 Form Four students arrived safely and are now living and studying at JAMS. Only one of the Form Four students has been unable to return at this time, but we expect her back in 2021. Because the teachers continued instruction by phone starting in April 2020, the Form Fours can now focus on preparation for their graduation exams, doing hands-on experiments in the Sparks Lab (the science building), writing practice essays, and practicing math problems. The KCSE is cumulative, covering all four years of high school. Preparation for these exams is crucial for future opportunities such as college or university. Form Fours will remain on campus doing their prep until the exams happen in March.

Just a few days ago, the Ministry announced that students in Forms One through Three will not return to school until 2021. JAMS continues long-distance instruction with those students. The teachers aim to keep students progressing in key subjects including the sciences, English, Kiswahili, math, history, and geography. Teachers continue wellness checks with the goal of helping all our students stay healthy and ready to return to school when that is possible. Teachers also provide immediate support to students as needed.

On campus, everyone has stayed healthy so far. JAMS follows all government guidelines and goes beyond. The teachers as well as the students are staying on campus, wearing masks, and following sanitation guidelines. All visitors to campus are required to sanitize and wear masks. JAMS has bought disinfectant sprayers and chemicals, hand sanitizer, special PPE for kitchen staff, and individual supplies for each student such as wash basins and slippers. JAMS has set up two isolation rooms in case anyone becomes ill and needs to quarantine. A local welder is making the pedal-operated hand-washing stations required by government guidelines for schools. Soon, more outside seating (benches and tables) will be installed on campus. In addition, the school hired two JAMS alums to assist with managing COVID-19 protocols now that students are on campus.

JAMS support staff continue to maintain the campus buildings, work the farm, and provide campus security. The farm staff cultivate kale, onions, beans, and corn (maize) in the fields as well as tomatoes in the greenhouse. They also care for the pigs, sheep, and chickens, and the cows in the Tomkins Dairy. Staff, teachers, and students consume some of the produce of these operations, but tomatoes, eggs, and milk are also sold to the local community. The income provided by this continued employment is a true lifeline for the villages around JAMS. Jobs at JAMS mean meals on the table for many families and have a positive ripple effect in the local economy. In some cases of dire need, JAMS has donated food to local families.

Your generous donations to the JAMS COVID-19 Emergency Fund made all of this possible at JAMS. Because of you, not only is the school prepared to manage the pandemic, it also has the funds for testing and medical care should any students become ill. As JAMS founder and director Dr. Teresa Wasonga has said, “Jane Adeny Memorial School is in a far-off country, but folks have responded with love and care like JAMS was next door.” Thank you!