Security concerns raised as schools re-open Monday

Schools re-open tomorrow for the second term amid concerns about the safety of learners, the release of free education funds and school fees guidelines.

Yesterday, parents were busy shopping for their children while others thronged banking institutions to pay schools fees.
The government is expected to release about Sh10 billion under the Free Primary Education Programme and subsidised secondary education.

In the budget estimates tabled in Parliament on Thursday, National Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich increased the allocation for schools from Sh40 billion to Sh46.8 billion starting July.
However, the security of students will be a major concern to all in view of the recent terrorist attacks targeting learning institutions.

Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) Saturday called on the government to provide training for security guards in schools.
“Our existing security staff need induction so that they are prepared for any emergency. They must be able to detect any security threats and bring it to our attention,” said Kessha chairman John Awiti.

He called on parents to co-ordinate with school management to ensure that their children are safe on their way to school and also within learning institutions.
The concerns come a month after the April 2 of 142 students at Garissa University College.

Student leaders from public universities have admitted that their institutions have not effectively prepared learners for emergencies.
There have also been proposals for mandatory paramilitary training for all students who wish to join public universities in the country.

Yesterday, Education Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi told the Sunday Nation he had instructed the security committee in his ministry to look at emerging issues.

“Once they are done they will be required to develop a document that will be presented to stakeholders in the education sector for deliberations and adoption,” he said, adding that the government is also considering introducing security studies in schools in order to prepare children with life skills.

“I won’t give the timeline on the introduction of security studies. We are currently reviewing our curriculum, and we will use that opportunity to introduce the security aspect.”
He said he had instructed school heads to put in place safety measures to ensure that their learning institutions are safe.

Prof Kaimenyi said the management boards should engage him with regards to resources for that purpose. He noted that students and teachers are not yet prepared to handle disasters and emergencies despite the government having developed several policies on the security of students.

“We have developed several manuals on security in schools such as disaster risk reduction in schools, among others. Kindly read these manuals,” he said.
Dr Sobbie Mulindi, a senior lecturer of psychiatry at the University of Nairobi, said that schools and other learning institutions should institute disaster preparedness and first aid training.
Handle disasters

He regretted that most institutions have not prepared students and staff on how to handle disasters. “The learners must be able to differentiate between a bomb blast, gunshot sounds, sound of tyre burst and transformer blast,” said Dr Mulindi.

PREPARED AT ALL TIMES

He said Kenyans are living in a volatile and unpredictable situation and must be prepared at all times, noting that the government seems more reactive than preventive.
The ministry of Education in collaboration with Unicef developed several manuals to guide schools on safety of learners in schools.

The manuals includes Safety in Schools 2008 and Disaster Risk Reduction manual 2012.

The manuals are designed to look at the overall safety and protection of school children with emphasis on the reduction of disasters.

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) said the government should beef up security in learning institutions to ensure the safety of students.

“We expect the government to provide at least two security guards to schools so that parents are assured of their children security,” said Kuppet chairman Omboko Milemba.

On school fees, Mr Awiti said schools will have to grapple with the guidelines issued by Prof Kaimenyi early this year.

“Many school heads are struggling to adjust the school budgets. Others were charging less, while others were charging more, and they have to work out a plan to ensure the policy is implemented,” said Mr Awiti.

Elimu Yetu Coalition Coordinator Janet Muthoni said the government should ensure that school heads and boards of management stick to the fee guidelines.
“We do not expect parents to pay more when the government has already issued a fee guideline,” said Ms Muthoni.

Meanwhile, the Teachers Service Commission has de-registered 126 teachers for gross misconduct.

A notice in last Thursday’s issue of the Kenya Gazette said the individuals will no longer be allowed to engage in any teaching activities.

“The names of the teachers specified in the list have been removed from the register of teachers after the said teachers were taken through a disciplinary process and found guilty of gross misconduct,” said the notice signed by Ms Nancy Macharia for the commission’s chief executive.