A village in Naivasha was sent into mourning after a Class 8 pupil committed suicide barely two weeks before the commencement of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).
The 13-year-old boy reportedly took his own life after struggling to clear Ksh100 school fees arrears meant to pay teachers.
According to the bereaved mother, who addressed the media at their home on Saturday, November 12, the school management sent the KCPE candidate home on several occasions.
The deceased left a note apologising to his mother for the decision to take away his life.
“I came looking for him only to find him dead. I called my neighbours, who confirmed that he was dead," the mother lamented.
She called upon the government to intervene and increase the number of teachers in the school to avert the constraints experienced by parents in paying teachers.
The son's school, she explained, was left with no option but to employ teachers at their expense owing to the shortage.
"Five teachers manage a population of over 100 pupils employed courtesy of the school's initiative.
"I urge the government to assist us with teachers so that our children can attend school consistently.
In addition, she complained about the high cost of living, stating that she was already struggling to make ends meet.
Worth noting, President William Ruto promised to increase the number of teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission to curb the shortage.
The President committed to employing over 58,000 teachers from January 2023.
“We want to ensure that the current teacher shortage of 116,000 is fully bridged within two financial years by employing 58,000 teachers at a cost of Sh25 billion per year," Ruto stated during his inauguration.
Counsellors, medics, and psychologists encourage you to seek help when experiencing mental health issues. Call Kenya Red Cross toll-free hotline, 1199, for support.
