The Education Ministry through the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has issued new guidelines that would enhance the safety of learners in schools and curb bullying.
According to the new guidelines released by TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia, caning, sex, bullying and drug and substance abuse would not be condoned in learning institutions and the teachers had also been warned on the same.
A section of the guidelines also indicated that it was the responsibility of school administrators to protect students against sexual abuse by reporting cases to the police and other security agencies.
“Cases of sexual abuse, whether within or outside the school, should be thoroughly investigated, documented and action taken with expediency," the report indicated
The report further went ahead and warned teachers against issuing corporal punishment or any other degrading treatment because it would lead to disciplinary action or prosecution in a court of law.
"Any form of bullying, including physical, verbal or psychological abuse, should be eradicated in the learning institutions,” read a part of the statement circulated to head teachers in primary and secondary schools by TSC.
The report also gave a stern warning to prefects who had been at the centre of bullying cases. The commission indicated that prefects should be sensitised on their role in school governance, which did not include punishing their fellow students in any way.
The TSC boss also warned headteachers against forcing or allowing students to repeat classes after it emerged that some schools were forcing academically weak students to repeat or were asking them to register in other schools, to ensure the schools perform well.
She also put school heads who are still allowing holiday tuition on notice despite the commission reiterating that all schools should operate within the term dates issued by the Education Cabinet Secretary.
The report comes in the wake of heart-wrenching details of bullying and torture of Form One students in the country's academic giant, Alliance High School.
The prefects in the Boys’ school were alleged to have mercilessly beaten the new students using hockey sticks and electricity cables, let alone slapping and forcing them to swim on the grass and lie on the graves of the school’s founders in the wee hours of the night.
