Education stakeholders in Homa Bay County have come up with a raft of measures to improve academic standards in the County.
The stakeholders from diverse backgrounds met with learners and Ministry of Education officials to devise ways of improving the quality of education in the County.
During the three-day meeting, students got a chance to share some of the problems they face in schools.
Their recommendations will be included in a final draft document that will be presented to the Ministry in an effort to improve education standards.
The forum brought together security officers, clergy, elders, boda boda operators and education officials to come up with recommendations to improve education.
Some learners said they were sometimes overwhelmed by heavy workloads that were negatively affecting their mental health.
Homa Bay County Education Director, Eunice Khaemba, said mental health issues were usually linked to family problems contributing to low education standards.
“Some children come from homes where parents are struggling with domestic disputes, depression and anxiety. Learners from such families are also affected,” Ms Khaemba said.
She expressed satisfaction that learners who took part in the discussion gave objective ideas that can help the Ministry.
Ms. Khaemba proposed psychological debriefing and counselling for learners showing signs of mental distress.
Health experts at the meeting said many teachers do not know how to handle learners with psychological problems.
Ms Georgina Otieno, a psychiatric nurse at Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital, expressed concerns that some learners are punished instead of being engaged.
She called for children with mental health problems to be referred to specialists for appropriate care.
“They need to be in an environment where they can open up freely so that they can be assisted,” the Director added.
Ms Otieno proposed that the Ministry of Education include mental health programmes in schools.
In Homa Bay County, Police Commander Lawrence Koilem blamed drug abuse for school unrest and proposed community policing in schools.
“We can proactively prevent insecurity issues in schools if we adopt a practical way of doing things. We can have officers talking to learners during assemblies,” Mr. Koilem advised.
Mr Apolo Bwana, a member of the Luo Council of Kenya, said exposure to violence online was negatively affecting children. He said children were also affected by political violence.
By Davis Langat
