Gyetighi Primary School

In 2010, 74 students walked across the makeshift stage at the front of the RVCV rec hall and received diplomas from Gyetighi Primary School. Proud parents, who had taken a day away from working in the coffee fields to celebrate their children’s accomplishments, rushed forward to cover the new graduates in wreathes of flowers and hugs. The party that followed was a joyful celebration of all the new possibilities that an education provides – possibilities created, in large part, thanks to RVCV’s partnership with Gyetighi.

By the Numbers...

450 students attending 9 classrooms renovated 7 teacher's house renovated 4 additional Math teachers hired 71 of 74 students passed    the Standard 7 national exam

Four hundred and fifty (450) students attend Gyetighi Primary School. The vast majority of these children – who range in age from 6 to 17 – live in abject poverty. Nearly all struggle with hunger, receive inadequate medical attention, and – until very recently – attended a failing primary school. As recently as 2004, the student teacher ratio at Gyetighi was approximately 65:1, and resources like textbooks, or even chalk, were in scarce supply. Unsurprisingly, given these conditions, on average two thirds of Gyetighi’s students did not pass the national exam required to graduate from primary school.

In 2007, RVCV and Gyetighi embarked upon a unique partnership aimed at improving educational outcomes and creating opportunities for students throughout the community.  The partnership has been an incredible success! Gyetighi’s graduation rate has sky rocketed from 30% to 96% in just three years, and in 2010 alone 17 local children have received scholarships to top tier secondary schools. In addition to working closely with the leadership of the school, and the community, to improve the quality of education at Gyetighi, RVCV has invested in the resources necessary for students and teachers at Gyetighi to succeed. This has included doubling the number of full time faculty, hiring 3 additional assistant teachers and 5 student teachers, renovating 7 classrooms and 5 teachers’ houses, providing textbooks and classroom materials, a nutritious lunch to all students (often the only meal these children receive), and access to medical care. For all students and faculty. 

Additional services and supplies provided at school include:
•  Supplies: Since 2005, we have provided the school with many school materials including textbooks and furniture.

•  Uniforms and Shoes: We have provided school uniforms and shoes to 450 students at Gyetighi Primary School (2005 and 2008), 750 students at Oldeani Primary School (2006), and 350 students at Meali Primary School (2007).  

•  Renovations: We have renovated 9 classrooms and 7 teachers' houses; built one new classroom, a new latrine with septic and a hand wash station, an incinerator, a school kitchen and cafeteria, and a sports complex including a regulation size soccer field.

•  Medical Attention: We are providing a daily multi-vitamin, quarterly worming medicine, and bi-annual well child screening for all the students at the school.



Newly renovated classroom buildings at Gyetighi Primary School