Following the recent government directive to ensure that all grade 10 learners report to school with or without fees, Mikuyu Assistant Chief Peter Ngovu has managed to trace and take some missing students to school.
The administrator who embarked on a door-to-door mop up operation in Vota villages in Machakos County has successfully tracked at least 10 missing learners who were unable to report to senior school due to lack of funds.
Ngovu said with the help of village elders, they trace and identify all the grade 10 students who were stuck at home and managed to assist 10 of them with few requirements to report to Vota Secondary school by Tuesday morning.
The Sub chief added that he wanted all the learners in his area to get an equal chance in life and that’s why he was keen on the government directive of 100% transition since some learners come from extremely humble backgrounds where parents are struggling to provide for their basic needs.
“This initiative is quite necessary as it guarantees equal opportunities for all learners and together with my village elders, we have ensured all the grade 10 learners from Vota stuck at home are now in school,” said Sub chief Ngovu.
Martha Mbatha a parent whose son had been stuck at home said that she had lost hope, her casual work was not enough to fend for her children and commended the government for intervening and ensuring her son has reported to school even without the school fees.
Peter Wambua a happy parent from Vota Mikuyu village said, as a farmer who relies on farm produce to feed and educate his children, the prolonged drought has rendered them destitute and unable to feed or educate his children noting that “The efforts by the Chief and village elders is appreciated since we were not aware the government had declared the students can report without fees”.
15-year-old Dennis Musyoka who reported to Vota Secondary school after staying home due to financial challenges, noted that he was devastated seeing all his friends had gone to school as he remained home with no hope for the future and thanked the chief and village elders for assisting them to get to school.
By Anne Kangero
