Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education, Prof. George Magoha, has on Thursday, November 4, issued a directive on burning down schools.
Prof Magoha stated that the government would not take responsibility for the loss incurred by schools following the recent spike in fire incidences, which saw dormitories, laboratories and classes go up in flames.
The CS stated that the government would not contribute towards rebuilding dormitories burnt by students.
This means that the school administration and the parents will be forced to meet the expenses of reconstructing
rebuilding the dormitories that were torched. In the term that began in October, 31 schools have been burnt down so far.
On November 2, the ministry of education yielded to pressure owing to the increased school fires and directed that all primary and secondary schools to be closed on November 19.
"It has been decided that the half-term break will commence on Friday, November 19, 2021. The students will report back on Tuesday, November 23, 2021," the statement read in part.
Teachers from Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) as well as school heads attached to Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) advised the state to have a break.
Through KESSHA Chair, Indimuli Kahi, the teachers blamed the unrest in schools on academic pressure caused by a condensed school calendar, after the government reworked the timelines to recover lost time.
“We forgot that we have students who have a lot of energy, and they look forward to participating in these events,” stated Kahi.
KUPPET chair, Omboko Milemba, is rooting for the abolishing of boarding schools to allow for parents to be actively involved in the discipline and counsel of their children.
