State House Girls’ High School has been closed indefinitely following student unrest.
On Monday, parents were directed to collect their daughters as learning activities were suspended to allow education officials and the school board to investigate and address the issues raised by the students.
In a notice to parents, the school stated that students were planning to strike, and to ease the situation, the school allowed them to go home.
“There was a brief period of unrest today, as some of the girls had expressed intentions of going on strike. Their concerns were listened to and addressed accordingly. However, after consultations with all relevant stakeholders, it was considered prudent to allow the students to be released tomorrow so that tensions can ease and normalcy can fully return,” read the notice.
The closure has disrupted learning as authorities move to restore order and investigate the issues raised by students.
Student Unrest Over Welfare and Academic Conditions
The unrest at the school is reported to have been driven by dissatisfaction among learners over several issues affecting life in the institution.
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Students raised concerns about the quality and adequacy of the food provided, as well as challenges with boarding conditions.
Healthcare services within the school were also cited as a major concern, with learners expressing frustration with poor medical attention when needed.
In addition, students raised concerns about academic pressure and learning conditions.
The school board subsequently moved to suspend learning activities indefinitely to contain the situation and prevent further disruption.
State House Girls board chairperson confirmed that the concerns were heard and addressed, and after consultations with relevant stakeholders, students were allowed to go home on Tuesday to ease tensions.
“We have had many concerns, including hunger, healthcare, the quantity of food, the quality of education and how students are treated, with some saying what they are being taught does not align with Ministry of Education standards,” said the school’s Board Chairman.
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State House Girls’ High School history
State House Girls was established in January 1954, was formerly known as the New Girls’ Secondary School.
The learning institution was founded following the relocation of a European hospital, which was located at the site on which SHGHS currently stands. The hospital was moved to become the present-day Nairobi hospital.
The building of the hospital consisted of the present main administration block. Meanwhile, the sisters’ mess was the present teacher’s house, which is adjacent to the main gate to the State House.
At the end of 1955, the school was split into two: New Girls’ Secondary School and Highland School in Eldoret (now called Moi Girls’ School). The whole student body, together with the headmistress and some equipment, moved to Eldoret. From 1956, the new student body consisting of boys and girls was established. The school was renamed to Delamere High School – Delamere was one of the most striking European settlers in Kenya.
The school continued catering for boys’ and girls’ education for about two years, when in 1958, the boys moved to a new school, which was called Delamere Boys’ School (now called Upper Hill High School). For about 10 years, the school was known as Delamere Girls’ School. In 1967, it assumed the name State House Road Girls’ High School, which later changed to the present name, State House Girls’ High School, omitting the word “Road”.
Earlier on, in 1961, the school’s administration had come under a Board of Governors. In 1973, the school was taken over by the Kenyan Government, thus becoming a fully maintained government school.
From its foundation up to the early sixties, the school remained exclusively for European girls. With the approaching independence, the school opened its doors to other races both in the student composition and the teaching staff. The first African girls were admitted in 1964. On the other hand, the first African headmistress was Mrs. M. W. Maina, who replaced Miss McDonald.
SHGHS has been and is still open to all races in Kenya and nationalities. Apart from human development, there has been a spectacular development in physical amenities. The school has expanded, adapted and improved. State House Girls remains one of the best girls’ schools in the country to date and enrolls girls from all regions of Kenya.
