The Ministry of Education (MoE) has directed education officers to ensure schools adhere to traffic rules, operating hours between 10pm and 5am.
Speaking during the Inaugural MoE Conference in Naivasha, the Moe Director General, Dr Elyas Abdi, said the education officers have only seven days to deal with administrators of schools operating outside of designated hours.
The workshop for education officers, “Reforming Education in Kenya: the practice, opportunities and challenges,” aimed to foster collaboration, share best practices, and address the challenges faced by education officers across the country. School buses operating at the wrong hours were among the issues discussed.
The director said no transportation is allowed outside designated hours. He directed the officers to cooperate with the traffic commander by reporting those found breaking the rules.
Dr Abdi said Nairobi schools are notorious for allowing school buses to operate at the wrong hours. “Implement this,” he said.
Other issues discussed include containing school fires.
The education officers were directed to request to attend a security meeting with the county commissioners, where they would receive firsthand information about schools.
The officers were also directed to ensure the school’s open communication channels, which include school suggestion boxes for learners to submit suggestions, comments, and complaints anonymously.
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“More than 95 percent of school fires happen at night, school dormitories should be secured, there should be fire free education system,” the director said.
The director also pointed out that some of the cause of the fire is drug abuse, which he directed the officers to address by allowing guidance and counselling in the institutions.
In January this year, the NTSA announced a new set of measures to address the rising concerns about school transportation safety.
It introduced vehicle attendants on school transport vehicles, who were tasked with ensuring that children were safely boarded and remained safe during alighting.
NTSA also highlighted the necessity of crossing guards, who will be stationed at school entry and exit points and pedestrian crossings to control traffic.
School vehicles shall be inspected twice a year and must be fitted with functional safety belts designed for children’s use.
The vehicles must also have at least one fire extinguisher conforming to the applicable standard issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
They should also be installed with mirrors that enable the driver to have adequate visibility of the sides, rear and along both sides of the bus.
By Obegi Malack
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