Hillside Endarasha Academy shuts boarding section, reopens as day school

Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri has reopened its doors for the new academic year, just three months after a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 21 students.

On Tuesday, the school resumed operations for the first term of 2024, but with a significant change: it has now fully transitioned into a day school, abandoning its boarding facilities entirely.

The school's reopening marks a new chapter following the tragic inferno, with a wall now erected to seal off the former dormitory area that housed over 300 students.

This shift in structure is accompanied by changes in the school's look, including a new colour scheme, reflecting the institution's efforts to rebuild and recover from the tragic event.

Despite the heartbreaking past, parents expressed their hope and optimism for a brighter future as they returned their children to the academy.

Many highlighted the school's strong academic performance over the years as their key reason for bringing their children back.

"We expect a good performance from the learners. We've spoken to them and they've come to terms with the aftermath of the fire. It was an unfortunate incident but it happens in other schools," said Margaret Ndirangu, a parent.

Samuel Gitonga, another parent, echoed similar sentiments.

"We've brought back our children because of the school's past performances in national exams. The school will continue to excel alongside our children," he said.

The Ministry of Education gave the school a clean bill of health to resume operations, and parents are optimistic about the upcoming academic year.

"We have brought our children and many more are streaming in. I think they might even need to build more classes to accommodate them," said Teresa Wamuyu, a parent, as she commended the school's swift recovery and readiness for the new term.

"The school's owner has conformed to the government's requirements. The school has changed; they've given it a facelift and we believe it can resume operations without any hitches," said Ruth Ndirangu.

The school's management has already informed the Nyeri High Court of its decision to permanently shut down the boarding section, a move that officially took effect on December 20, 2024.