About The School
In March 2019, THI was approached by The Born Free Foundation (https://www.bornfree.org.uk/) to collaborate on the construction of a Science Lab at Kanjoo Secondary School . This was our very first project and our introduction to the Kanjoo community.
Kanjoo Secondary is located in Maukune Lower Village next to the Primary School. It opened its doors to its first class of students, 13 girls and 19 boys, on 28th January 2016 afer the Ministry of Education realized the need for secondary education in the area.
Provisional school registration was done in July of 2017 but the full registration was not finalised until February of 2019 when the construction of the Science Lab was completed using funds from THI, Born Free and other stakeholders. 11 government teachers have since been deployed to the school with a further 10 teachers funded by the Board of Management, either through parent’s contribution or government capitation. Since 2016, the school has grown and now has an enrolment of 574 students; 309 girls and 265 boys. Unfortunately, the government has not put the same emphasis on the development of the school infrastructure as they have the admissions so the facilities have become extremely overwhelmed and the school over populated.
In order to cater for the huge population of students, the school has resorted to having to use a mobile classroom (in the form of a large portable tent), the science lab and one room in the Primary School as classes. Some lessons are also given under the trees.
The school presently has 6 permanent classrooms (3 funded by the Born Free Foundation and 3 funded by government with 2 further government funded classes still incomplete).
We have just completed, in 2025, a much needed girls' permanent toilet block. This has enabled girls to come to school during their menstruation with privacy and washing facilities now onsite. Previously there was a high percentage of girls falling behind due to missing school every month and many would ultimately drop out, leaving them susceptible to teenage pregnancies and early marriage.
Planned Development
The school has highlighted that their immediate needs include:
- 3 more classrooms
- Kitchen and a store
- Administration block
- Multi-purpose hall
- Library
- A second Science laboratory
