Ministry directs schools to find urgent remedy for students unrest

The Ministry of Education has directed the administrators of boarding schools to convene meetings within 10 days to discuss security amid a worrying trend of fires at the institutions.

Basic education principal secretary Belio Kipsang directed that the school board discussions be communicated to respective County Education Boards.

At least 10 schools have reported cases of suspected arson since the institutions resumed in-person classes on January 4 after a nine-month break. Schools had been closed as part of efforts to curb spread of the pandemic.

“Each school must convene a board meeting by February 15 2021 to discuss and assess security and put in place preventive measures,” said Dr Kipsang in the circular to regional and county directors of education.

Kabianga Boys High school is the latest to report suspected arson on the dormitory barely a month after physical learning resumed.

Others where fire incidents have been reported include Kipsoen Boys High School in Elgeyo Marakwet, Kimulot Boys in Bomet, Kirimari Boys Secondary School in Embu, Kisumu Boys High School, Chesemasi, Kimilili and Bukembe schools in Bungoma.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha banned the use of bottles hand sanitisers in school saying some students were using their contents to start fires.

The CS on Wednesday ordered head teachers to conduct headcount of students in boarding schools before bed-time to arrest rising arson cases.

This comes amid a push by Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) for abolition of boarding schools as part of measures to tame the vice.

The ministry has called for deployment of more teachers on duty and security around dormitories and classes when students are not using them.

County directors of education have been directed to the organise a meeting with respective County Education Boards by February 25 to discuss rising cases of school fires and come up with specific recommendations.