The government's move to shut down unsafe schools in a bid to protect learners has left thousands of pupils stranded and parents clueless on what to do next.
According to the Daily Nation of Tuesday, October 8, more than 10,000 learners have been affected by the crackdown on unsafe learning institutions.
Education officers ordered the closure of more than 300 primary and secondary schools and asked parents to enroll their children in public schools near their homes.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha ordered a countrywide inspection of schools, after the Precious Talent tragedy where eight pupils lost their lives.
In an unexpected twist, the same parents whose children the directive seeks to protect, have resisted the move by the government.
The resistance from parents exposed the issues influencing education in informal areas in the country. Allan Juma of the Kenya Alliance of Non-formal Schools noted that the directive was not a good basis for making policy decisions.
Nairobi Regional Director of Education, Jared Obiero, acknowledged that not all learners, who were affected by the closure, reported to the alternative schools the ministry directed them to.
Parents complained of the long distances between their homes and the schools, shortage of teachers and congestion in the learning institutions.
Many private primary schools in Nairobi are supported by donors. The learners are granted free meals and as such, the closure of the schools has forced parents to cater to those needs by themselves.
