Headteachers are now pointing accusing fingers at the Ministry of Education led by Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha, over the recent surge in the incidences of unrest in schools.
Led by Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Chairperson, Indimuli Kahi, the teachers maintained that the Ministry of Education failed in its oversight role which could have helped in averting the cases of unrest.
Kahi noted that before the schools were given a nod to reopen, teachers had proposed a raft of measures but failed to factor in the half-term breaks which has contributed to the spike.
"This was an oversight from the very beginning. When we had the pandemic response committee to look at the opening of schools, that is when the calendar was drawn. At that point we did not notice we missed out on half-term break," Kahi stated during an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday November 2.
"I said it was oversight and immediately we notice this term when we opened we did share with the Ministry of Education. It is not because the schools were burning that is when we decided to let the Ministry of Education look at it. We had noticed it earlier and I am happy that the Ministry did not that and has given half term so the fires may have come.”
Kahi also noted that the Ministry of Education imposed a tight calendar on students which might have overburdened them leading to unrest in the learning institutions.
"Second term basically even in the old calendar was a term that has been very tricky. This is the term when all schools are trying to ensure the syllabus is covered on time that they leave third term for the revision and examination period. It is only that this term is ongoing on months like September and October which could have basically been the third term so that could also have led to that omission," Kahi noted.
Omboko Milemba, KUPPET chair, blamed the use of substance by learners as the main cause of unrest making it difficult for teachers to discipline students.
"Substance use is a major problem in schools and teachers are unable to discipline the students because of the liberalised society," Milemba stated during a separate interview on Wednesday, November 3.
On containing and restoring sanity in schools, teachers have proposed a raft of new measures.
Kahi stated that boarding schools need to be slashed down.
"We need to start cutting down on boarding schools. If they have to be started, there must be some very clear criteria on what should be achieved before a school is allowed to become boarding."
He also stated that after students resume school after half term, they need to start participating in inter-school activities among other activities.
"Once students come back, let's allow them an opportunity to ventilate, participate in inter-school activities and for principals, adjust school routines if necessary."
This comes as a report by the Auditor General revealed that many schools lacked the adequate infrastructure to deal with inferno incidences.
Some schools even lacked the basic fire assembly points and most were not constructed as per the required safety standards.
The audit, which covered 42 schools in 5 counties: Machakos, Siaya, Uasin Gishu, Kajiado and Kiambu, showed that many schools were sitting on a time bomb.
