By Amoto Ndiewo
Increased surveillance and strong guidance and counselling from religious leaders played a major role in curbing cases of arson in most North Eastern (N.E) schools in 2021.
In the entire North Eastern region,only NEP girls and Garissa High, both national schools, had cases of fire outbreaks.
Speaking to Education News, Saka Girls High school principal Yakub Buthul believes that the close relationship between the school’s established alumni foundation and the school to a greater extent helped in averting the menace which spread like wildfire in Kenyan secondary schools.
‘I have been in different schools but was happened last year was different. Fortunately, at Saka Girls, the alumni always come back to give back to the community and to encourage students.’ said Buthul.
Buthul, who received a delegation of old students from Saka Girls Alumni Foundation, said that the group gave a pep talk to the students and urged them to follow the right way.
Yakub said that Saka Girls boasts of a strong guidance and counselling department where teachers and students form families to discuss the challenges experienced by the students.
‘This makes it easier for the school management to address some teething issues,’’ said the principal.
Nassir Burrow, an alumnus, says the school has produced notable names across the country.
‘’We are reaching out to the alumni who have yet to formally join the foundation. Together we can make this school a centre of excellence by providing the much needed support to students and encouraging them to focus on academics,’’ she said
Garissa county director of education Khalif Sheikh said it was sad that two national schools fell by the wayside and that the culprits are yet to be apprehended.
He pointed out that it was possible that the arson attacks were carried out by outsiders with internal interests in the schools.
He said that disgruntled students are there but that they are handled before any eventuality.
