Parents to bear cost of damage in riot incidences

Transfer of students from schools closed over riots stopped

What you need to know:

  • The Cabinet Secretary said his ministry will soon take action to stem riots in school.
  • Some of the schools include St John’s Nyamagwa Boys, St Mary’s Nyamagwa Girls and Nyamagwa Seventh Day Adventist Mixed Secondary School.
  • Former Roads Minister Franklin Bett said parents ought to take responsibility for the damage caused by their children in schools.

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has said that government resources will not be used on repairing schools destroyed by students.

When the CS visited Itierio Boys Secondary School, where students burnt down seven dormitories after they were denied permission to watch a Euro 2016 match on Saturday, Dr Matiang’i said parents would have to bear the burden of funding the reconstruction of the school. He also ordered investigations into the incident.

“We will not use State resources to fund thuggery. Government funds will not be spent on repairing schools destroyed by students in the recent spate of violence,” the CS warned after assessing the damage.

He also ordered schools not to admit students from institutions affected by riots.

Speaking at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development during a forum on administration of national examination on Monday, Dr Matiang’i said student transfers must be approved by sub-county directors of education.

He said he had issued a circular barring parents from transferring students as they wished.

“We will not allow some crafty parents to transfer their indisciplined children from the school so that they can escape the responsibility of rebuilding,” he said.

He added that MPs and other elected leaders had been driven to the brink of bankruptcy through harambees called to reconstruct schools damaged during unrests.

“We cannot have fundraisers every weekend for schools damaged by undisciplined students,” he said.

His sentiments were also backed by Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia, who said the commission will take stern action against any staff implicated in the planning or execution of the arson.

Ms Macharia expressed disappointment following claims by some teachers that they were not in school at the time of the incident.

“We find it strange that no one member of staff apart from the deputy and the boarding master were in school during the riot. That is an issue that raises more questions than answers,” she said.

ROOT CAUSE

To solve the problem, he said that communication between students and school managers was important in averting unrests.

“Parents and teachers must also encourage children to be responsible,” said the Cabinet secretary.

Matiang’i further said there was no reason to justify the destruction of school property on the scale that the country has witnessed.

Moi University lecturer Lumala Masibo said unrest in schools was a reflection of the society and poor school management.

“The solution to the problem is to engage students more proactively,” said Dr Masibo.

Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion accused the government of failing to tame the disruptions in advance.

“We have witnessed this unrest and destruction of properties for almost a month. The government is yet to act and we wonder what they are waiting for as properties are destroyed,” said Mr Sossion.

Despite past studies by two task forces on school unrest, there seems to be no permanent solution to the problem.

A study conducted at University of Nairobi’s College of Education and External Studies revealed that there was no clear management style that was predominant in the schools surveyed.

The findings also showed that mock exams, diet, bullying, high-handedness of principals, pressure from other schools, transfer of principals, lack of communication between students and the principals, poor facilities, and drug abuse were common causes of students unrest.

In the past six months alone more than 10 school fires have been reported in the Kisii region.

Some of the schools include St John’s Nyamagwa Boys, St Mary’s Nyamagwa Girls and Nyamagwa Seventh Day Adventist Mixed Secondary School.

STUDENTS AND PARENTS CONSPIRE

According to Bassi Boitang’are MCA Isaiah Mosota, whose ward witnessed three school fires in three days in March, the fires might be a protest by disaffected parents and students out to effect what he calls “backdoor changes” in the management of schools.

“Some disgruntled political figures could also be taking advantage of the fluid situation in schools caused by a few genuine grievances by students and parents to cause chaos,” he said.

At Tengecha Boys High School, the administrators gave Dr Matiang’i a report detailing their suspicions on last week’s fire.

However, the minister did not seem satisfied and instead directed the Kericho County Director of Education, Ms Hellen Nyang’au, to deliver another report to his office in 48 hours.

“Some things are missing in the report and I am awaiting a new one. After we get the report we will be a position to act. If there was a lapse among some people prior to the fire incident, all those responsible or culpable will be dealt with. Those found guilty will carry their own crosses,” warned the CS.

Former Roads Minister Franklin Bett said parents ought to take responsibility for the damage caused by their children in schools.

However, Bomet County Knut Executive Secretary Malel Langat challenged Dr Matiang’i to make public the recommendations on the report on school unrests; and proposed that guidance and counselling specialists be posted to schools to help address students' issues.

“We can no longer bury our heads in the sand. School administrations should be assisted to engage students directly and unearth the root causes of the arson incidents. Corporal punishment should also be reinstated,” said Mr Langat.

Reported by Ouma Wanzala, Aggrey Omboki and Timothy Kemei; Editing by Philip Momanyi