Shock as wind destroys school classrooms, leaving pupils without learning space in West Pokot

Over 70 pupils were yesterday left stranded after a devastating windstorm swept through Oron Primary School in Kacheliba, West Pokot County, leaving three classrooms blown away.

The incident, which occurred in the middle of the day, while learners were out for lunch break, caused panic among the school fraternity who witnessed the sudden destruction of their learning environment.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the damage has left more than 70 pupils without a place to learn, raising urgent concerns about their continued education.

The headteacher of Oron Primary School, Girale Simon, confirmed that the affected classrooms were partitioned to accommodate five classes, a measure adopted to cope with the shortage of learning space in the school. With the classrooms now destroyed, the affected learners are facing uncertainty as they struggle to find alternative spaces to continue their lessons.

“The classrooms were partitioned into five learning spaces,” Simon said. “This means that over 70 pupils are now left without classrooms. We are grateful that no one was hurt, but we are worried about the future of these learners if the classrooms are not rebuilt soon.”

Oron Primary School is one of the public schools in West Pokot County that has been operating under challenging conditions due to inadequate infrastructure. The school has been grappling with overcrowded classrooms, limited teaching resources, and a shortage of permanent learning structures. The windstorm has now worsened the situation, threatening the progress of learners who were already struggling with limited space.

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The destruction of the classrooms has disrupted the school’s timetable, forcing teachers to improvise in order to keep learners in school. Some teachers have been forced to conduct lessons under trees or in makeshift shelters, while others have been forced to merge classes, increasing the pupil-to-teacher ratio and affecting the quality of learning.

“After the incident, we had to improvise and merge classes to ensure that learners continue with their lessons,” Simon explained. “However, this is not sustainable as it affects the quality of education. The pupils are also facing psychological trauma after witnessing the destruction of their classrooms.”

Parents and community members have expressed deep concern over the incident, emphasizing that the school urgently needs support to rebuild the classrooms. They urged the government and development partners to step in and provide assistance to restore the learning environment and prevent further disruption.

A parent, who requested anonymity, said the incident has left many learners stressed and worried about their future. “The children are scared and confused. They do not know where they will continue learning. We urge the county government to intervene quickly before the situation worsens,” she said.

The community has also been affected as the school serves as a learning center for children from nearby villages. The destruction of classrooms means that learners from neighboring areas will also be affected, making the situation more serious.

West Pokot County has experienced frequent windstorms in recent years, which have damaged several schools and public buildings. These incidents have highlighted the need for improved infrastructure and better planning to ensure that learning institutions are resilient to natural disasters.

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Education experts say that the situation at Oron Primary reflects a broader challenge facing many schools in the region. They note that inadequate infrastructure, coupled with extreme weather events, can significantly disrupt learning and affect learners’ performance.

“Schools in arid and semi-arid areas are particularly vulnerable to windstorms,” said an education specialist who asked not to be named. “The government should prioritize the construction of permanent structures and provide support to schools that are at risk. It is important to ensure that learners have a safe and conducive environment for learning.”

The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of learners and teachers, especially as the rainy season approaches. The school community fears that the situation may worsen if the damaged classrooms are not rebuilt promptly.

The headteacher has appealed to the county government, well-wishers, and development partners to assist in constructing new classrooms and restoring a safe learning environment for the affected pupils. He emphasized that the school needs urgent support to prevent further disruption and to ensure that learners can continue with their education.

“We are appealing for urgent support to rebuild the classrooms,” Mr. Simon said. “The learners deserve a safe and conducive learning environment. We urge the county government and well-wishers to respond quickly.”

As the school waits for assistance, learners and teachers continue to face the daily challenge of adapting to the new reality. The destruction of classrooms has highlighted the vulnerability of educational institutions in the region and the urgent need for investment in infrastructure to ensure that every child has access to quality education.

By Hillary Muhalya