| Our History
Gayaza as a School was founded in 1905 by Christian missionaries. The school began in January 1905 with 4 girls and by July 1905 the number had grown to 43 girls. The purpose was to train girls especially the daughters of chiefs in those skills that would make them better wives. This was the only basis of security approval from the traditional and traditionalist leaders of that time. The founders however had a different motive, to educate girls based on strong Christian foundation. They realised that the best way of entrenching Christianity was by having Christian mothers under whom children spent all their formative years.
he curriculum included cultivation, handwork, child-care and needlework, as well as scripture, reading and writing, arithmetic and geography.Link with Sherborne school for girls in the U.K
In 1950 Miss Corby, on leave , visited Sherborne school and spoke at school assembly. In describing life at Gayaza, she told them that breakfast was usually just tea, sometimes dry bread. The girls were shocked by this and as result began to send 100 Pound Sterling a year to Gayaza.In 1955 Miss Diana Reader- Harris, Headmistress of Sherborne, visited Gayaza for the first time. This was the beginning of a fruitful relationship between the two schools. A number of school leavers came to Gayaza for a “ Gap” year, teaching and making themselves useful. Staff visited Sherborne when on leave and were made most welcome and girls Elizabeth Bagaya and Florence Kalikwani did their sixth form studies at that school before going on to Cambridge and London respectively.
Later a new dormitory was named Sherborne.
Over the years, pressure to increase numbers has increased especially in view of the very limited number of good girls’ schools. Facilities originally meant to cater for 500 boarding students are now accommodating 60% over capacity. |
