2024 is a significant year for Nova Pioneer. It is the year that we mark a decade as a school network and it is also the year that we graduate the highest number of students into the world of possibilities that await them. Additionally, we celebrate our two Eldoret campuses for graduating their inaugural Form 4 class. 

At the end of 2023, we had a total of 289 candidates sit for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations across our four high school campuses in Kenya. We are excited to share with you that 78% of our students achieved A to C+ and 22% achieved C to D. We are eager to support each alumni on their post-school success path through our robust programme.

Our top scoring Novaneer achieved an A of 83 points, Wanjiku Kamau from our Tatu City Girls Campus, and our top performing school is our Eldoret Boys Campus with a mean score of 9.4 with 93% scoring A – C+ and 7% scoring C – D+. 

 

Top Performing Subjects
Subject	Points	Grade	Campus
Business Studies	11.6	A-	Eldoret Boys
Computer Science	11.2	A-	Eldoret Boys & Eldoret Girls
Geography	11	A-	Eldoret Boys

 

 

 

By combining academic mastery with character development, collaborative problem solving skills, and connection to the world, we are preparing Novaneers for the most important test of all: life!  

The path ahead shines bright for our graduates! With the KCSE results now released, we expect a good number of the students to obtain admission in the institutions whose admissions are based on the national examinations results.  Additionally, the Class of 2023 has applied to a range of international universities. These include universities across Australia, Canada, Germany, Ghana and the United States. Most students will receive their admission decisions and scholarship awards to these universities between March and July 2024 but we have already cumulatively received a total of USD$ 6,000,00 in scholarships through pre-admissions to institutions across the world.

These results are testament to the tireless commitment and work of our teachers and post school success counsellors.

Our students have been set up on a path to success and we are proud of them.  We cannot wait to see where they lead next! 

Are you interested in learning more about our unique learning model that spurs academic success? Apply today and get a chance to attend our open day!

 

Education plays a pivotal role in shaping your child’s future. This reality makes selecting the right school environment a crucial decision for a parent or guardian. While boarding schools have their merits, day schools also present many advantages.

In line with offering a variety of options to serve more of our families, Nova Pioneer is launching a day school option for Junior School in the city of champions, Eldoret. We currently have two campuses in Eldoret, a Girls’ Secondary School, and a separate Boys’ Secondary School dedicated to impacting the next generation of leaders and innovators.

Three Reasons To Enrol Your Child At Nova Pioneer’s Junior School Day Option in Eldoret 

Reduced Cost and Accessibility

Affordability is one of the reasons families are not able to access quality education. The Nova Pioneer Eldoret – Junior School Day option enables families who live in Eldoret to access quality education at a reduced cost due to the reduced boarding expenses. The money saved can be redirected to developing other aspects of your child, like specialized extracurricular activities.

Sense of Independence and Responsibility

We pride ourselves in developing responsible leaders and innovators who will shape the future and our learning model is student-centered, thus giving them the opportunity to explore what they know under the guidance of our teachers. A day school option will enhance their sense of responsibility and independence since they will have to balance the school assignments with daily family responsibilities and  personal interests. Your child will get to develop their organization skills and time management ability. This early practice will help them seamlessly transition into Senior High School and other higher learning institutions. 

Reduced Homesickness and Stress

Sometimes, it can be hard for your child to get accustomed to a boarding school environment. Unfortunately, getting a quality Junior Day school is an uphill task in most urban areas. Our day school option will help your child avoid dealing with high-stress levels caused by homesickness as a result of being in a boarding environment. A child that is not stressed has better mental health and will have a positive attitude toward academics. Thus, being able to develop as an all-round student.

If this is an option that interests you, reach out to Cosmas from our Admissions team via 0799453440.

Nova Pioneer has for the past 9 years delivered its unique learning approach using best practices from across the world. In Kenya, Nova Pioneer has delivered the National Curriculum (8-4-4 & CBC) and in South Africa, we have delivered the Cambridge Curriculum. 

Over the years, our families have requested that we consider delivering Cambridge Curriculum in addition to CBC and we are excited to announce that with the experience we have from delivering Cambridge Curriculum in South Africa, we are launching Cambridge curriculum as an option at Nova Pioneer Cambridge open to day scholars. Cambridge Year 7 (equivalent to CBC Grade 6) will be offered from September 2024. The plan from 2025 would be to make additional years and expand the curriculum across other years (not just limited to Year 7).

What is Unique about the Cambridge Curriculum?

Cambridge is rigorous and requires students to engage in depth with the content and skills of each subject they take. The ability to succeed in this curriculum is determined much more by the attitude and mindset of the student, and their ability to engage with course material, not only inside the classroom, but independently as well. Students that can apply knowledge and skills learnt, have the potential to do very well in the Cambridge curriculum.

Cambridge has designed its curriculum as an enquiry-based one, and therefore it is an excellent fit for us and our teachers who teach in Nova Pioneer schools that also have an explicit enquiry-based approach. 

Cambridge AS- and A-Level phases are specifically designed to prepare students for the academic rigours of university. For Cambridge AS- and A- Level, students take between 3 and 4 subjects normally, but are expected to delve into them in a far deeper way than they would be required from students in other curricula, where students may take seven or more subjects. At A-Level, much of the content covered is at first year university level, and consistent feedback from our SA-based Cambridge alumni is that they are certainly at an advantage in terms of content covered and academic ‘fitness’ than their counterparts completing other curricular.

More About The Cambridge Curriculum?

The Cambridge curriculum is an educational framework developed by Cambridge Assessment International Education, a part of the University of Cambridge. It provides a structured and comprehensive approach to education for students from primary to pre-university levels. Kenya is the 4th biggest market for Cambridge in Sub-Saharan Africa. (Zimbabwe #1, Nigeria #2, South Africa #3, Kenya #4).

Here’s why you should choose Cambridge:

 

	Cambridge Curriculum	CBC The Nova Pioneer Way
Flexibility for Individual Growth	✔	✔
Innovation in Teaching	✔	✔
Practical Applications	✔	✔

 

Flexibility for Individual Growth

Recognizing that each student is unique, Nova Pioneer offers a flexible framework that allows for individual growth. Tailored to accommodate a range of learning styles, the curriculum empowers educators to create personalized learning paths that cater to the needs and interests of each student. This approach not only enhances engagement but also encourages students to take ownership of their education.

Innovation in Teaching 

Nova Pioneer merges innovative concepts with the educational systems by integrating modern teaching methodologies; exposing its students to dynamic learning experiences. From interactive digital resources to collaborative projects, Nova Pioneer equips students with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Practical Applications

Whether Cambridge, CBC or 8-4-4, Nova Pioneer puts emphasis on knowledge being applied to real-life situations. Lesson delivery places strong emphasis on practical application, encouraging students to connect theoretical xconcepts with their practical implications. This approach not only enhances understanding but also equips students with the tools they need to address real-world challenges with confidence.

Above all, Nova Pioneer seeks to instill a lifelong love for learning in both Cambridge and the Kenya National Curriculum by nurturing curiosity, creativity, and a hunger for knowledge; going beyond mere academic achievement. Nova Pioneer prepares students to embark on a journey of continuous learning, empowering them to adapt, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to society throughout their lives, and most importantly aligning so perfectly with Nova Pioneer’s core values; High Expectations, 21st century skills and a space for nurturing innovators and leaders.

Cambridge Curriculum Proven Track Record

Our students from our Ormonde campus recorded  remarkable achievement with one of our students achieving top position in Cambridge International Award by being top position globally for Cambridge International IGCSE Business Studies in November 2022.

An impressive 83% of our Ormonde graduating class achieved University Exemptions. Notably, Nova Pioneer students surpassed global subject pass averages in English, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Business, and History. 

Learn More

Are you interested to learn more about Nova Pioneer’s Cambridge Curriculum offering in Kenya? Sign up here and a member of our Admissions team will get in touch with you.

Dear Novaneers,

 

Happy new year!  I am writing you this letter from Johannesburg, where the final rainy week of December has given way to a new year’s weekend of sunshine and brilliantly clear blue skies.  I am thankful to have been able to spend the December holidays with family, and to have rung in the new year together as a family.  While 2022 will no doubt have its challenges, the year has started with a great new energy.  May this early sunshine be a sign of a positive year ahead! 

Looking back to 2020 and 2021, I am incredibly proud of – and deeply grateful – for the Nova Pioneer community: for our students, families, and teammates.  Your commitment to our students and to our culture principles of Greater Together, Solutions First and High Expectations, enabled us to reach new educational heights, even as we persevered through the shocks of the pandemic.  In 2021, Novaneer students published books, won gold and silver medals in the Yale World Scholars Cup, placed 1st and 3rd place nationally in Kenya’s Junior Achievement Entrepreneurial Company Programme, travelled internationally, organised inspiring campus programmes, conducted community service, studied diligently, supported each other and experienced great personal and academic growth.  Across all our secondary schools, our graduating students in 2021 built on and surpassed the exam success of their predecessors. In Kenya, the May 2021 graduates of Tatu Girls and Boys Secondary schools did us all proud by achieving an 8.0 composite average, including a number of superlative individual results, and doing so in their 1st and 2nd KCSE sittings respectively.  Well done to all our students and teachers, and to the families and teammates who support them!   

So what lies ahead?  In 2022 we will continue to focus on the intention we set 12 months ago: to build every Nova Pioneer school into a Beacon of Excellence and Value.  Here is what we wrote last year:

In 2018 former South African President Kgalema Mothlanthe visited Nova Pioneer and challenged us to become beacons of excellence, demonstrating what is possible in African education.  The transformational power of institutions of excellence resonates with us.  They stand out for doing distinctively good work and are beacons of possibility. 

Being Beacons of Excellence and Value means sharpening our focus on educational excellence, with an attentiveness to understand what our students and parents value.  It means making clear choices about which of those we can best serve and how, and then visibly delivering on it.

That vision served us well in 2021 and the early feedback from our families was very positive.  Twice a year we seek our families’ feedback and voice through a biannual survey.  In 2021, across Kenya and South Africa, our family positivity rating grew by a remarkable 50%, from an already strong base!  

Through those surveys, Novaneer families told us they valued [1] Nova Pioneer’s academic rigour and 21st century preparation, [2] the care and individual attention shown by our teachers for each of our students, [3] improvements in communication, and [4] the way our schools and teachers adapted to the pandemic, ensuring safe and continuous learning.  Once again, I am grateful for the deep commitment and care of students, teachers, and support teammates alike; and especially for our parents’ generous and steadfast partnership.

However, we have more work to do.  We must work to further grow our students’ achievements, shine brighter as beacons, and thereby deliver on our mission of developing innovators and leaders who will shape the African Century.  As we do so we also need to do what we can to protect affordability for families, by striving to be even more efficient in the way we work and judicious in prioritising what matters most to our students’ education.    

In the 2021 surveys, our families asked that we stay focused on excellence in each of the areas mentioned above, and that we expand the opportunities that our students have to explore and develop their interests and talents beyond the classroom.  Informed in part by that feedback, a few points of focus in 2022 will be:

• Invest further in our student experience. Specifically, we will [1] selectively expand the opportunities our students have beyond the classroom to pursue passions and connect with each other (including across schools and enabled by technology).  Nova Pioneer schools currently offer a wide range of extracurricular and cultural opportunities, some of which may be specific to your school.  Therefore I will defer to your school to communicate over the course of this year about the opportunities that are available, and any new ones that become available as a result of further planning.   [2] We will invest in our Post School Success programme and personnel so that we continue to give Novaneers a ‘leg-up’ in preparing for tertiary and other post-school opportunities.  
• Refresh each Nova Pioneer schools’ Individual School Strategy. Each Nova Pioneer school will review its medium term educational programme plan (including the points noted in above); while also planning for long-term fiscal health and school growth.  While Nova Pioneer schools are made consistent by our shared mission, culture principles, and distinctive educational approach, each school is a unique community of students, faculty, and families, in a unique local context.  That offers each school unique opportunities to manifest our shared vision for Novaneers, and so we will identify, prioritize among, and pursue those.  
• Operate efficiently. Even as we continue to prioritize educational excellence, we must remain focused on value for families.  We already see the signs of growing inflation in both Kenya and South Africa, and we are likely to see that inflation accelerate as economies work back from the effects of COVID-19.  While protecting our commitment to educational excellence, we will seek out opportunities to work even more cost effectively, to mitigate the impact of inflation on families wherever we can. 

As we do all that, we will keep true to our foundations as Nova Pioneer: [1] our mission to develop innovators and leaders, [2] our culture that is built on our six culture principles; [3] our commitment to academic excellence; and [3] our vision of learning, where every Novaneer discovers that he or she is fundamentally capable.

With gratitude and best wishes for a positive 2022,

Chinezi Chijioke
Founder and CEO, Nova Pioneer

Every Year parents make a decision for their children to either join Public schools or a private school.Here are the  benefits of private school education.

Enhanced Opportunities

One key benefit of private schools is the enriched educational experience that pupils obtain.This is thanks to numerous additional initiatives offered at Private Schools including; extra-curricular activities and a variety of  programs for gifted students.

At Nova Pioneer,in particular, our students are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one of our co-curricular activities. These Includes; Debate & Model UN, Journalism,Blogging & Photography, Drama/music club,Computer club, Entrepreneurship Club, Music Creation Club, Dance Club,Scouting, First Aid & Presidential Award club, Robotics & Maker club,Chess & Indoor games.

We also offer coaching for a variety of outdoor games including; Rugby, Basketball, Hockey, Football and Swimming.

Private schools can create their own teaching methods. At Nova Pioneer, We have a learning design team composed of subject matter experts. They are responsible for crafting all lessons around the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development objectives.

Lessons at Nova Pioneer are delivered using the 5-E lesson plan. This is whereby students discover content for themselves about the lesson( They Get to explore their leadership potential), They are encouraged to be innovative and make connections of their findings with the real world.They then share their findings with the teacher in class who then gives clarification and finalizes the topic.

By the end of every topic, Our learners have done their research, engaged with each other and this enhances their understanding and mastery of topics.

Reduced class Sizes.

 Studies  have  shown that the smaller the class size the higher an average grade a student attains.

At nova pioneer, Our primary class size for Pre-Primary Class is 24 students per class where each class has 2 teachers, For the Upper classes, our class capacity is 32 with 2 teachers per class as well.

This has proven to be a very helpful teacher student ratio whereby each Student gets attention from the teacher depending on their strengths and or weaknesses.

Expectation of Success

The high  quality of education offered at private schools results in very good academic results. The mission of private schools attracted students with similar interests, passions and talents.

At Nova Pioneer, we have seen a steady improvement in our K.C.S.E grades. 80% of our candidates qualify to join Universities as the others join tertiary institutions.

Networking Opportunities

At Nova Pioneer, We have a Post School Success Team. The Team Organizes exchange programs for our students between Kenya and South Africa. The team also offer student job shadowing and internship opportunities in a variety of professional fields depending on each students’ interests.

Our students have earned  international scholarship opportunities to pursue their dream careers.

The Nova Pioneer community is also a source of networks.

Community Feel

Many Private schools make an effort to create a community environment. When school feels more like a community, students can feel safer, more comfortable and more passionate about learning.

At Nova Pioneer our culture principles create such a great bond between students and staff. We call ourselves Novaneers.

The strong feeling of community at Nova Pioneer nourishes the student’s social skills and encourages good behavior.

Excellent Resources

Most private schools have excellent resources and facilities to support learning. From well equipped classrooms to multiple sports facilities. 

At Nova Pioneer, We have world facilities that offer a great learning environment for our students.

Get in Touch With Us

If you’d like to enroll your child for the 2022 academic year, Then please get in touch with us. Visit our website to learn more about Nova Pioneer.

June 16th is a day set aside to remember and celebrate the African Child. Every year on this date, the African Union and its Member States observe the Day of the African Child (DAC) as a commemoration of the 16th June 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa, where students who marched in protest against apartheid-inspired education, were brutally murdered. 

People worldwide celebrate this day by highlighting awareness about the education system in Africa by sharing their views via social media using some hashtags for example #educationforAfrica, #InternationalDayOfTheAfricanChild. Contributions are also made to organizations that work towards improving education for the African child. 

This year, a deep emphasis was put to raise awareness on having Access to a child-friendly Justice and education System in Africa. This augers very well with the Nova Pioneer Mission of developing generations of innovators and leaders who will shape the African Century. It was therefore our pleasure to have our students join the rest of the world to celebrate this day. 

HOW WE MARKED THE DAY AT OUR ATHI RIVER CAMPUS

Reading is an important skill in every child’s life. Book reading can spark a child’s imagination and stimulate curiosity, help develop the child’s brain, ability to focus, concentration, social skills and communication skills it also helps a child learn the difference between ‘real’ and ‘make-believe.

To underscore the importance of the reading skill among our students and parents at NPAP, what better way was there to celebrate The day of the African Child than to participate in STORY MOJA PUBLISHERS READ ALOUD PROGRAMME. In this, our students joined children from all over Kenya to break the world record in reading.

The aim was to have every child in Kenya read the same text at the same time from their own school. To make this more interesting, our P.T.A class representatives read with the students instead of having the teachers do it. The parents representatives then led the students in asking and answering some questions from the text read. The data was then forwarded to the publisher awaiting tallying to see whether the world reading record is coming to Kenya, we are anxiously awaiting the results! 

Our day in school at NPAP rarely ends without a “Joy of Learning Moment ” and this day was not going to be any different. Our students engaged in  various activities depicting African art work – Face painting, making head crowns decorated with feathers, some bead work and making of African dancing costumes. 

 

 

 

Nova Pioneer students from our Tatu City Girls Campus Wangari and Shirleen, recently made an awesome video showcasing their High School experience. We caught up with the two ladies to find out more about their experience making the video.

 

What excited you about doing a video project like this? 

We have always had a passion for film so working with the film equipment and doing a project like this made as feel like “real” directors.

 

What inspired you to do it?

We wanted to make something different, something that’s not just about academics or the world- class facilities of the school. We wanted to showcase the moments we share in school with the other girls. We wanted to show how we enjoy every single second of High School.

 

Were there any challenges you faced when putting it together? If so, how did you overcome them?

Firstly, finding a camera of good quality was the first step. Once we did, we experienced a few glitches in how to use it. Secondly, some of the students involved were camera shy and we had to make them comfortable. It was our first time editing so getting the music transition right was an issue but we managed to get the the hang of it.

One of the greatest advantage was having a partner. This way we motivated each other going by our culture principle of  ‘Greater Together’. We collaborated by dividing the work and tasks, and this made filming faster.

We learnt how to edit from YouTube, although it included a lot of frustration and sleepless nights because we had set a deadline for ourselves. We would do it all over again though.

 

Give us a fun fact or two about yourself.

Fun- ish facts about us:

I (Wangari) always make really good food, the trick is to add honey or soy sauce if it doesn’t taste good. Try it sometime…hahaha.

I (Shirleen) acted in my first play when I was only 8 years old.

 

In The End

Being able to make something that tells a beautiful story and immortalizes a good memory or experience is always fulfilling. Wangari and Shirleen have embodied the spirit of ‘Greater Together,’ and in the process have set High Expectations for themselves and others. We definitely look forward to more stories they will tell from their high school experience and even beyond!

 

 

 

Covid-19 continues to challenge our once best laid plans. Schools in Kenya have remained closed since March and as we await directives on re-opening in September 2020, our learners continue to adjust as best as they can to the new reality we live in. At Nova Pioneer, we take pride in having launched our remote learner packs in the last part of the first term of the year that allowed students to continue learning remotely. This was closely followed by the launch of our virtual learning program in May and this program has been accessible to our Nova Pioneer families.

To continue reaching as many learners as possible to reduce the expected impact Covid-19 may have on the quality of education across the world, Nova Pioneer will be extending it’s virtual learning program to non-Nova Pioneer families.

 

What You Can Expect?

 

Access to Student Facing Google Classroom

Google Classrooms helps students and teachers organize assignments, boost collaboration, and foster better communication. This has enabled us to shift from physical classrooms to a digital classroom environment.

Live Lessons & Lesson Videos

One of the distinctive features of Nova Pioneer is our strong instructional leadership culture. Coupled with education technology tools from the G-Suite for Education, Nova Pioneer has been set up to deliver engaging learning experiences for all Novaneers remotely and at scale.

In partnership with our learning design team, teachers and instructional leaders, we are building out a library of rigorous enquiry-based lesson storyboards, which are helping guide our Novaneers through the 8-4-4 and CBC curriculum at home. We have been thrilled to see the engaging learning moments that have been happening across Novaneer homes!

Students enjoy receiving lesson videos from a team of passionate teachers at each campus, which are delivered via their Google Classrooms.

Class Assignments

Our students have been completing their assignments completely digitally and submitting them back to teachers. What is amazing about this is that students are learning to use digital tools like Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, which are building essential collaboration and digital literacy skills for the future ways of working. What sets innovators apart from others is that they use technology as tools for active creation and collaboration, rather than only for passive consumption of content.

Weekly Live Check-Ins

Every week teachers are connecting with their students via Zoom or Google Meet making sure that teachers remain connected and in relationship with their students as they move through the curriculum at home.

To learn more about our Virtual Learning Program, feel free to email us on admissions.ke@novapioneer.com.

To sign-up for the virtual learning program open to Non-Nova Pioneer families, click here to complete the interest form and a member of the admissions team will reach out to you to clarify any questions you may have and with the next steps.

“Everything you can imagine is real.” Pablo Picasso

 

We all know that there reaches a particular age where a child will be constantly inquisitive and wondrous about everything around them. It is not uncommon to be plagued with questions like why? Where? What? Who? When? How? All with an end goal of knowing more. As the children keep growing, this yearning to seek more and know more tends to die down.

Arguably, this could be a function of very many variables that creep up to play a more dominant role in the lives of children. Parents/guardians start being more granular about expectations, there’s an unsaid code from peers about what’s cool and interesting and what’s not. The unwavering pressure to conform and be cool and interesting has led to the stifling of creativity amongst most of our young people. 

On the 12th June 2020, we got together with Shakira (NP Tatu Girls, F4), Ari, (NP Tatu Boys, F4) and Lesley  (NP Ormonde Senior School, Grade 12) for the second series of Nova Pioneer Connect. We talked at length about creativity, it’s genesis and development, and the role it has played in finding that inner balance in their quickly evolving lives.

Click on the link below to catch the insightful conversation.

Teachers play a very significant role in our lives. This realization hits so close to home when we acknowledge the belief and the forthright commitment some of our teachers have had in identifying and following through with the growth and development of our talents. There’s a much more profound appreciation for the teachers who were able to see in us what we might not have seen in ourselves.

The ability to recognize potential and go further to nurture and develop is something our Co-founder and director, Mr. Christopher Khaemba is widely known for. There isn’t a shortage of his former students spread across the world who laud him for his steadfastness in having an eye for excellence both inside and outside the classroom. For the 36 years, Mr. Khaemba has been in the Education space, he has built a legacy of excellence that still lives on in him and the thousands of students and teachers he has impacted.

You can read more about Mr. Khaemba’s journey on this article by the Daily Nation https://www.nation.co.ke/sports/othersports/Alliance-principal-Chris-Khaemba-score-A-in-sports-academics/1951306-5534712-npn4ocz/index.html