Food for thought as authorities grapple with arson incidents

What you need to know:

  • Our role-modelling nationally has not been altogether edifying.
  • When leaders get involved in violent and destructive behaviour, younger people may see this as the standard.

  • We must look at all factors as we strive to find a solution to the school arson incidents. 

I do agree: the fires in schools are far too many. Those of us who care cannot pretend that nothing serious is happening. Today I wish to address myself to a friend and colleague of mine Dr Fred Matiang’i who is disturbed by the arson incidents and is obviously thinking seriously about what should be done. Take courage, my brother, because whatever has a beginning must ultimately have an end.

Sometime last week I was talking to a friend who is directly involved in the education sector and he said some fundamental things which I thought Dr Matiang’i may want to look at. There were theories about the reason for these violent activities in our schools around the country. I heard one about people – or a cartel – who are into cheating in examinations. Then there is the issue of term dates and so forth.

There could be a few other reasons. Let us ask ourselves why under-18s just wake up one day and decide to burn the dormitories they sleep in.

Some of the theories that have been advanced seem to suggest that all secondary school students across the country who have been involved in this atrocious behaviour have the same reason for doing what we are now seeing.

I DISAGREE

Mr Cabinet Secretary, I disagree with that line of thought. Every school, wherever it is located in this country, has its own peculiar sociopolitical and cultural circumstances. As we try to deal with this weird phenomenon, this is a thought that must be taken into account.

Mr CS, if you allow me, there is another big thing that I think ought to be managed. Public opinion can go whichever way. The fact that our media – they have their own logic which I understand – keep reporting every fire in every school must be managed in some way.

If students are made aware of such negative activity wherever and whenever it happens, and they happen to have their own internal issues, they may want to do the same as a way of expressing their anger. It could even be a teacher they are not happy about. And, in any case, we must come to terms with the fact that our role modelling nationally has not been altogether edifying.

When leaders get involved in violent and destructive behaviour, younger people may see this as the standard. We must look at all factors as we strive to find a solution to the school arson incidents. 

      

Fr Dominic Wamugunda is dean of students, University of Nairobi; [email protected].