A local NGO says the recent wave of student unrest in the country is not just a disciplinary problem but an indication of a deeper challenge in the education sector.
Addressing the press in Nyeri, Elimu Yetu Coalition National Coordinator Joseph Wasikhongo said the education system is currently grappling with a myriad of challenges, including failure to implement sound policy safeguards key in addressing learners’ grievances.
Wasikhongo warned that failure to address the long-standing issues that dog the education sector will only undermine learners’ safety and reduce public confidence in learning institutions.
“We express deep concern over the escalating crisis of school unrest across Kenya, which continues to threaten learner safety, disrupt education, and undermine confidence in learning institutions. (The) key concerns driving this crisis include limited learner participation, parenting gaps and weak stakeholder collaboration, weak child protection, and weak school governance and policy, including rigid school rules,” said Wasikhongo.
In addition, the Coalition has also cited delayed disbursement of capitation to schools by Treasury as a hindrance in funding key education programs and the overall improvement of learning facilities like classrooms and laboratories.
“Negative social influences on learners, including excessive exposure to harmful social media content, inadequate learner support systems, and limiting the ability of schools to provide a safe, supportive, and conducive learning environment. In addition, limited use of research and evidence to inform content-specific education policies and interventions, resulting in responses that do not adequately address the root causes of school unrest,” he added.
Elimu Coalition is now proposing a raft of urgent measures to help address challenges affecting schools and other institutions of learning, which it says remain the only antidote in attaining globally accepted education standards.
The CSO noted that while the government and other relevant stakeholders deliberate on long-term solutions to fix the glaring gaps in the education sector, some of the needed solutions only require goodwill from all stakeholders.
Among the interventions include domestication of counselling and mentorship services in every school and also implementing any previous recommendation that had been proposed by previous taskforces and commissions.
“Prioritization of learner safety is paramount. While stakeholders deliberate on long-term measures, urgent practical interventions must be implemented to safeguard learners. Fully implement and also monitor the recommendations of previous task force and commission reports on school fires and students’ unrests and additionally strengthen monitoring of general school safety standards to ensure high levels of accountability,” added a statement from the coalition, which operates in 42 counties.
“Safeguarding the future of Kenya’s learners requires collective responsibility and sustained commitment. On this matter we all stand indicted; therefore, urgent action must be taken to protect our learners and stabilize the education system.”
Since April 27 this year at least 330 cases of school unrest have been recorded in the country, according to figures from the Ministry of Education.
Out of the reported cases, 95 involved fires, while 34 were attempted arson attacks.
One of the tragic cases was the Utumishi Senior Girls in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which led to the deaths of 16 learners after a dormitory they were sleeping in was set ablaze by their colleagues on May 28 this year.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has already approved murder charges against eight students suspected to have taken part in the attack.
By Samuel Maina
