Northstar Academy Secondary School

Garissa, Kenya

The students of the North Eastern Province of Kenya perform poorly in education. More than 80-90% of students do not qualify for admission to a university. Most schools are lacking in teaching resources such as computers, books and science equipment. Therefore, performance in sciences and math is extremely poor.

The region’s schools are overwhelmed by the presence of refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia and other African countries. Due to insecurity, the government has withdrawn non-local teachers and there are few or no qualified local teachers to teach school in the region. Most of the local communities are poor and cannot afford to pay school fees for their children. Due to all of the above, schools are unable to sustain themselves and fail after a couple of years. If they would remain open, school drop out rates are high with early marriage for girls common.

Northstar Academy would like to change this desperate situation. The school, though private, will have a social entrepreneurship mission to sustain itself. School fees will be subsidized for children from poor, refugee and immigrant children. It will be the first STEM school in the region that will have American curriculum that is connected to Universities and Colleges in the United States. In addition to being a pioneer in STEM education, the school will also invest in building the capacity of local teachers.

The long term mission of the school will be to develop the next generation of social justice leaders in the region that will create a more just, peaceful and equitable society. “A generation of youth have not known peace and stability, so unless we create a better future for them - their society as a whole has no future.”

Msaada has developed a Phase I Campus Master Plan with probable cost estimations to assist in the funding this valuable project.

Client: Center for Multicultural Mediation

Type of Project: Education

Project Area: 1,169 square m

Services provided: Concept Design, Master Planning