The Ministry of Education, under Cabinet Secretary George Magoha, has directed headteachers to engage with students on a personal level to curb the rising cases of indiscipline in schools.
Education Permanent Secretary, Julius Jwan, urged school heads to listen to students, outline their concerns and find lasting solutions for each grievance raised.
Jwan wants his directive implemented immediately when schools resume for the second term starting Tuesday, October 12 to December 23.
The PS hopes that the Ministry in coordination with parents and school heads would aid in reducing the indiscipline cases through a democratic approach, rather than threatening students with punishments and expulsions.
“We want school heads to listen to their students’ problems because there are many indiscipline cases which must be contained,” said Jwan.
He, however, did not elaborate on how the Ministry of Education will help the schools in formulating the democratic guidelines that will help in handling insurgency in schools.
Teachers, nonetheless, in the new model, will be required to understand the genesis of students' problems that lead to indiscipline in schools.
Prior to the new approach, Magoha had championed the reintroduction of caning, saying that it would help address the rising cases of indiscipline in schools.
"Learners will not commit crimes and walk scot-free. We shall ensure that these situations are neutralised before they escalate."
“They must be caned and we shall authorise teachers to punish them," Magoha stated at the time.
He also proposed random blood tests in schools to apprehend students who test positive for banned substances in order to help prevent the vices in the institutions of learning.
Recruiting and posting chaplains to guide students on their spiritual well being was also another measure on Magoha’s cards.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations, under George Kinoti, also warned that students found culpable of leading unrests would not be issued with certificates of good conduct.
