SAME is situated on a plateau on the Arusha – Moshi – Dar es Salaam Highway, a semi-desert, arid and drought-stricken area. At the invitation of Rt Rev. Jacob Koda, the then Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Same, Tanzania, the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation offered 10 Sisters to Same mission. Sisters Irene D’Souza, Leena Mathias, Irene Reema and Nirmala Rodrigues took the initiative to start Pre-form for school dropouts and Assisi Pre-Primary School in a rented house at SAME in 2004. Sr Nirmala was in charge of the Pre-Primary School.
In the year 2005 the Assisi School was shifted to its present campus and classes were held in the partially built Padre Pio Children’s Home, an orphanage built for the single parent and orphan girl children. As there was no school building the Children’s home served the purpose of the school till 2007. In 2006 the school got formal registration from the Department of Education. After two years when Sr Nirmala went to pursue her studies Sr Claudia took charge of the School as headmistress and later Sr Laveena Rodrigues shouldered the responsibility. At present Sr Sophia Pereira is serving the Institution as headmistress of Assisi Nursery and Primary English Medium School.
The School is owned and governed by the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation. The Register No. of the Pre-Primary is KL 04/3/006 and of the Primary is KL 04/3/ E. A 006. The School has 34 acres of land. Out of which 15 acres have been donated by Fr Mansuetus Setonga of the Diocese of Same and the other 19 acres were purchased from the villagers. The land is registered under the title No. 21586 and the Society bears No. 14264.
August 3, 2007 was a memorable day in the annals of Assisi Nursery and Primary English Medium School. The School was inaugurated by His Excellency Mr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the President of the Republic of Tanzania. The School, Staff quarters, Padre-Pio Children’s Home, were constructed under the leadership of Rev. Sr Edilburga, the first Mission Superior and first manager of the School. After Rev. Sr Edilburga, Sr Veena Clara Mascarenhas, the Regional Superior was the manager of the School. She has added a multi-purpose hall to the children’s home.
There is a school bus to transport students from the neighborhood. Today we have 437 pupils of whom 140 are boarders and orphans living together as sisters to each other. The school faces a major challenge in getting reliable supply of water. Assisi Nursery and Primary English Medium School secured the first place among the top ten in 2010, second in 2012 and third in 2013 among 183 schools in the Region. In 2013 the whole batch of 23 students of VII Standard secured grades and were able to receive Government Scholarships (free education) for their Secondary studies.
All pupils are provided with faith and character formation, excellent academic education, health, hygiene and a conducive environment to live in. We hope our pupils will have a better future in society and grow up to be value-oriented leaders in the country of Tanzania.
