160,000 students displaced in Kenya conflicts

An estimated 160,000 students have been displaced in recent violent conflicts experienced in parts of Kenya, an international conference on peace education was told Wednesday.

Some 1,350 teachers have been affected, 40 schools burnt down and 65 others vandalised, Education permanent secretary George Godia told the on-going international workshop on Peace Education in Nairobi.

The Tana Delta conflict left schools vandalised and burnt down, while students, teachers and education officials were displaced leading to disruption of learning in the areas.

As a result more than 250 candidates are sitting their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam in different schools other than where they registered.

“All these has not only affected access and provision of quality education but has reversed the gains made and hamper the achievement of international commitments such education for all and the Millennium Development Goals,” Prof Godia said.

Some of the primary schools that have been affected by the clashes include Riketa, Ozi, Shirikisho, Chamwanamuma, Semicaro, Kikomo, Nduru, Hadaraku, Kipao and Galili, the PS said at the workshop held in Naivasha’s Great Rift Valley lodge.

The conference has brought together Education ministers from 15 African countries under the aegis of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (Adea).

Adea brings together countries facing similar challenges such as violence, to discuss ways of developing solutions to their problems, where the countries utilise their respective education systems as agencies for peace-building and conflict prevention.

Prof Godia said this was the reason most of the participants in the workshop were drawn from countries that have experienced violent conflicts in the past and hoped that the workshop would provide an opportunity for learning and action.

He pointed out that peace, security and stability are paramount pre-conditions for national and regional development, and the role of education in promoting peace and national cohesion could not be over emphasised.

This is because education provides skills and builds knowledge that enable people to contribute to the development of their country’s safety, security and economic growth.

“In instances of conflicts, prompt resumption of provision of education services provides a sense of normalcy and order which in turn promotes healing and reconstruction.”

Following the post-election violence experienced in the country in 2008, Prof Godia said the Ministry of Education, initiated the Peace Education Programme to enhance peace building and conflict management through education.

The peace education programme, he said, aims at nurturing a culture of respect for sanctity of human life and promoting dialogue as a channel for resolving conflicts including the values of compassion, fairness and respect for all.

“This was in recognition of the fact that children are peace makers of the future and need to be facilitated to develop a personal sense of responsibility in society,” he said.