By Norah Musega
Rongo-Canan umbrella has issued stern warning to school going children found in the motorcycles transport business, famously known as Boda-boda in Rongo sub-county to face disciplinary action through the stage officials as a way of reducing the number of school dropouts in the region.
Through their Chairman Henry Ojode, they pledged to work together with parents and guardians to ensure their members do not play part in causing school dropouts.
Ojode called on parents to stay vigil on the Boda-boda riders they are engaging for transportation of their children to and from school so as to avoid exposing them to their predators who may molest or sexually assault them without their parent’s knowledge.
“Every parent must do a background check on the Boda-boda riders they are engaging to transport their children to and from school. I urge them to work together with the officials of the stages where those they are engaging are allied to,” said Ojode.
The chairman promised to ensure that through his leadership all school going children within the sub-county attend school as no child within the school going age will be allowed to operate any business within the sector and that parents should also ensure they know the whereabouts of their children at all time.
“Most of the learners loose track while on their way to and from school and therefore I wish to challenge the parents to contract some of our colleagues to enable they spend little time in between home and school as this will also generate more income for the Boda-boda operators but after conducting thorough check on those they wish to engage,” noted Ojode.
He lamented that underage children have invaded the business and as a result, has affected the prices set by the sector for every stage. He then warned that this will no longer be tolerated and all must adhere to the rules set within the sector.
“Any learner who drops out of school can be assisted through other means but the Boda-boda sector is not a solution for them. I wish to warn parents to ensure the underage do not join the sector without following due process set for registration in all the stages within the region,” added Ojode.
His sentiments comes days after learning resumes for the second term in schools across the country following the one week holiday and a week after the Sub-county Director of Education Mr. Dancun Odhiambo urged parents to enhance the security measures on their children during the holidays and in ensuring their children report back to school on time.
Odhiambo noted that the education calendar is squeezed and there was need to ensure learners maximize on the little available time with their teachers to cover the syllabus.
