Mtwapa: Anestar Coast Girls Academy, situated in the Mtwapa informal settlement of Kilifi County, is fully prepared to welcome Grade 10 learners as part of Kenya's transition to the Competency-Based Education (CBE) Curriculum. This initiative is aimed at offering new educational opportunities to girls who have faced socio-economic challenges that disrupted their education.
According to Kenya News Agency, the school is set to play a significant role as Kenya shifts to a senior school system where Grade 10 students will follow specialized pathways tailored to align with their abilities and career goals. For families in Mtwapa and nearby areas, Anestar Coast Girls Academy's readiness is a crucial step in keeping girls in school, thereby tackling issues like poverty, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages. Historically plagued by high dropout rates among girls, the academy is committed to empowering the girl child and addressing the disparities in access to quality education.
The institution primarily serves learners from vulnerable backgrounds, providing a supportive and safe learning environment. During a celebration for the school's 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results, Principal Njoroge Eliud Gitonga announced that preparations for the Grade 10 intake were complete, with only a few spots left. "We are fully ready for Grade 10. Our teachers are prepared, facilities are in place, and learners will pursue either Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) or social sciences pathways under the new curriculum," Gitonga stated.
The school has a Grade 10 capacity of 105 learners, who will be the first cohort to experience the senior school structure of the CBE system. The pathways are designed to help students develop skills aligned with their strengths and future ambitions. Gitonga emphasized that the school's location in Mtwapa was a deliberate choice to provide quality education to vulnerable communities along the Coast, where socio-cultural and economic pressures have led to high dropout rates among girls.
To combat financial barriers, Anestar Coast Girls Academy offers a flexible fee payment system known as Lipa Mdogo Mdogo, allowing families to pay fees in small, manageable installments. The school also subsidizes up to 50% of fees for learners from extremely needy backgrounds. "We understand the humble background of many families in Kilifi and the Coast region in general. That reality informs our approach. We support learners so that financial hardship does not deny them an education," Gitonga explained.
The academy has invested in modern facilities to support practical education, particularly for STEM subjects, including fully equipped laboratories for computer science, biology, chemistry, and physics. Despite being in an informal settlement, the campus is designed to resemble a university, inspiring academic ambition among students. Gitonga noted, "When learners walk into this school, they feel like they are in a higher institution. That environment changes their mindset and helps them believe they can achieve more."
Teachers have undergone retraining programs to effectively implement the CBE curriculum, with 90% of the staff participating in these initiatives. Internal capacity-building sessions were also held, facilitated by contracted education professionals. Gitonga highlighted the school's role as a benchmark for understanding the Grade 10 experience under the new system.
While challenges related to Grade 10 textbooks remain, publishers have been supplying sample materials for evaluation. Teachers are reviewing these books against curriculum designs from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), with the school expecting to finalize textbook selections by the second week of the term.
The school's confidence in handling the new curriculum is reinforced by its impressive performance in its inaugural KCSE examinations, demonstrating its ability to uplift and empower girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. Of the 47 candidates who sat the 2025 KCSE examination, 23 achieved a mean grade of C+ and above, resulting in a 51% university transition rate. The top student earned an A- grade, a significant achievement for a school serving learners from an informal settlement.
Principal Gitonga asserted that the results challenge stereotypes about the academic potential of girls from such backgrounds. "These results prove that when given the right facilities, discipline, and support, girls from this region can compete with anyone. We urge parents to give the girl child a chance. With the right environment, they will reach their potential and return to uplift the entire Kilifi community," he said.
Deputy School Captain Kesley Neima, a Form Four student, attributed the school's success to discipline, hard work, and a structured learning routine. Students begin their day at 4:30 a.m. for morning preparations, followed by remedial classes before regular lessons start at 7:30 a.m. The school also focuses on holistic development, offering guidance, counseling, and motivational talks to protect students from negative social influences.
Anestar Coast Girls Academy is part of the Anestar Group of Schools, originally based in Lanet, Nakuru County. The Mtwapa campus was established to provide world-class education closer to the Coast region, enabling girls from Kilifi County to access quality education without leaving their homes.