Kindoroko Secondary School is situated on a mountain in Ngujini ward within the Mwanga District of Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania and is about 8.5 kilometers from the National Highway Moshi – Dar es Salaam. The idea of opening a secondary school originated from Normal Ward Development Council who presented this request to the member of the Parliament during his visit to the constituency in 1982. The School began as a technical school and gradually changed over to a secondary school in 1986. Mr Jackson Kinenekejo was the first headmaster.
The initiative came from the people of Kisangara, mainly comprising three villages of Songoa, Ngijini and Chenjale. They joined hands in constructing the structures needed for a secondary school. The land for the purpose was donated by them. They themselves collected the funds from the local villagers. Those who could not pay in cash paid in kind with things like stones and furniture. Transport was not
reliable. Hence the people carried building material on their head. Acquisition of the technical teachers, funds to run the school and managerial skills were the big drawback for the villagers to run this community school and hence they decided to hand it over to the Diocese of Same.
In June, 2004, the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters landed in the Diocese of Same. Kindoroko Secondary School needed committed people for its revival not only in terms of academics but also character formation. At the same time the Sisters needed some sustainability. Bishop Jacob Koda of Same Diocese having known the managerial skills and experience of the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters placed the management of this School in their hands on December 27, 2004.
Sr Jacintha Cutinha shouldered the responsibility as headmistress and Sr Victoria Serrao and Sr Assumpta Mangli joined her as staff of the School. It was a very challenging time for the Sisters for whom everything was alien. They were strangers to the local language and culture; the staff of the school as well as the students took time to adjust to the new management and their disciplined way of
functioning. Now and then the students revolted when Sisters tried to impose some discipline. In the bargain the school management decided to stop admitting boys and this decision proved to be right. In 2011 it became a full-fledged girls’ school. The beginnings were tough until the students and the staff realized the motive of the Sisters. After Sr Jacintha left for India in 2007 for good Sr Victoria Serrao took over the charge of administration. Since June 2011 Sr Sunitha Catherine Vas is
managing the affairs of the School as headmistress.
Sisters have also given importance to infrastructure development of the School. Since it is a residential school three dormitories and a kitchen were constructed to make space for the additional number of students. Six classrooms were added to the existing facilities.
1079 students have passed out of the School and in the current year 37 will be completing their Higher Secondary Course. There are 170 students studying in the school at present.
The dauntless efforts of the past and present headmistresses are visibly bearing fruit now. They dared to be different and brought the difference in the students. Upgrading the School to higher secondary, construction of laboratories, renovation of the school building, renovation of the school road, activity-oriented classroom atmosphere, better results are the future projects of the School.