Karungu Secondary School in South Mugirango, Kisii County, was shut down after students failed to report back when schools reopened in January.
Kisii County Director of Education Henry Onderi confirmed the closure of the school on Friday, February 3, noting that it was impractical to continue running the school.
According to the Director, the nine teachers deployed to the school by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) were idle after only one student reported back.
Consequently, the director disbanded the school’s Board of Management with immediate effect for what he termed as their failure to manage the school.
"We resolved that this school should be temporarily closed and any children who are there be relocated to nearby schools and the Sub-County Director to facilitate the transition of these children from Karungu Secondary School," the director noted.
“Some schools are not making economic sense in terms of the number of students who are there and teachers available. There was a school for example which has only one student against teachers available."
He pointed out that poor performance in the Kenya Certificate Secondary Education was one of the factors scaring away parents from enrolling children in particular schools.
He affirmed that he was aware of situations where parents went up in arms against school principals in protest of poor results. However, he reiterated that parents had a crucial role in enhancing performance in schools.
"Parents should be able to support the schools that are in their locality," he affirmed.
"The performance in a school can never be a result of one person. What role did you play as a parent to support the school to achieve the desired performance?" he posed.
The preference of schools based on KCSE performance was manifested a great deal in the selection of high schools by 2022 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) candidates.
Some secondary schools with a history of exemplary performance in national examinations attracted inordinate applications for form-one slots that were way above their capacities.
While releasing the placement results, Education Cabinet Secretary blamed poor guidance from parents as a factor in the preference of a few schools.
"There are schools where we get so many applicants yet the capacity is few hence it is not possible for all candidates to be placed in their dream schools," Machogu stated.
