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Othaya Boys High School exam results can now be received by the parents using the SMS text messaging. Through a programme known as Smart SMS System, the parents received the 2010 KCSE results, first term starter examination results and the mid -term examination results. The programme is cheap, effective and convenient compared to previous ways where one had to use the post office.
The programme which was introduced last month is also being used to inform the 906 parents of meetings or any progress at the school. This is the first school in Nyeri County to adopt the technology.
The school's Dean of Studies John Thiong'o said, during a parents' general meeting, that the service will be used to communicate with the parents. "All the parents today attended the meeting after we invited them using SMS. Parents used to wait for the whole term to know how their children are performing in school but with this kind of technology they can follow and monitor how their children are doing in school," said Thiong'o.
He said the service would also effectively serve parents who never got results due to irregular postal addresses given by their sons adding it will be easier to communicate to them even in times of urgency since it is crucial for them to have information on their children's performance.
The school's principal Dedan Muriithi said the programme was adopted since they wanted information to reach parents and other stakeholders in good time while also ensuring the school was compatible with the modern ICT. "We also wanted through this technology to challenge our students that it is possible to communicate to anyone from anywhere at any time," said the Principal before the school broke for Easter Holidays.
He said the school had also adopted the Smart School Programme 'Othaya Boys High School Management System' for analyzing and compiling examination results. The school adopted the programme in the year 2008 while the Smart SMS System was introduced in March this year.
The principal said though the school had a small decline in year 2010 KCSE results, they have through the help of the Constituency Development Fund and th e Economic Stimulus Programme been able to construct two classes, an extra dormitory and a science laboratory to cope with the large number of students in the school which he said was a challenge.
He urged parents to utilize the academic clinics held in the school to establish the strong and weak areas of their children in order to boost their academic results.
The chairman Board of Governors (BOG) Wilson Mwaniki said involvement of parents in their children's education was critical if better grades will be achieved and advised them to refrain from discouraging their sons. He said teachers needed to be motivated to boost their morale of teaching and enable them fully release their potential.
Mwaniki said over enrolment in the school had strained the teachers and revealed that the board had resolved to employ more teachers to supplement the shortage. "We know the problem of shortage of teachers is in every school in the country and though we have requested the Teachers Service Commission to give us more teachers, we are intending to employ others to add to the nine the board has already employed," he added.
He urged parents to pay school fees on time to ensure school activities do not stall so that their children's' education is not disrupted and told them to instill discipline in them.
During the meeting Erick Opingo, a motivational speaker who addressed parents reminded them that education was the best asset they could give their children urging them to shape their destiny when they are still young to be good role models when they grow up. Othaya Boys High School has 906 students. The school had a mean grade of 7.96 points (B) in the year 2010 KCSE results. Out of 225 students who sat KCSE last year, 174 of them scored grade C+ and above.
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