- Bahati MP Irene Njoki Mrembo says excessively early reporting exposes learners to insecurity and gender-based violence.
- Education CS Julius Ogamba maintains that day-school learners should not be required to report before 7:15am.
- The MP wants stronger enforcement after raising concerns over an alleged acid attack involving a learner.
Bahati Member of Parliament Irene Njoki Mrembo has called on the Ministry of Education to ensure public and private schools comply with legally prescribed reporting hours, warning that forcing learners to report to school too early exposes them to insecurity and gender-based violence.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Njoki said some schools in Bahati Constituency require learners to report in the early hours of the morning despite security concerns.
She cited a recent incident in which a learner was allegedly attacked and had acid poured on her, raising concerns over the safety of children travelling to school before daylight.
Njoki asked the Ministry of Education to outline measures it had taken to review and harmonise school reporting hours, particularly in areas experiencing insecurity, to safeguard the safety and welfare of learners.
Ogamba outlines official school hours
In response, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said schools are required to adhere to the Schools Safety Standards Manual, 2008, which requires institutions to work with Boards of Management, parents, school leadership and Ministry of Education officials, including quality assurance officers, to address learners’ safety concerns.
Ogamba further said school reporting hours are provided for under the Basic Education Regulations, 2015.
Under Regulation 84 on official school hours, learners in public and private day schools should not be required to report earlier than 7:15am. The regulations provide that learning should take place from 8am to 3:30pm, followed by co-curricular activities from 3:30pm to 4:45pm. The same hours have previously been reinforced by education and government officials.
However, Njoki said she was not satisfied with the Cabinet Secretary’s response and called for stronger enforcement of existing education policies.
She urged the Ministry to ensure schools adhere to regulations governing reporting hours and learners’ safety, particularly in areas where children face security risks while travelling to school.
MPs urged to take questions seriously
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula urged MPs to take parliamentary questions seriously and ensure they are present when the questions they have submitted are scheduled for response.
Wetang’ula said some MPs had sought answers from Cabinet Secretaries but failed to appear in the House to ask the questions.
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He urged MPs who are unable to attend parliamentary sittings to make arrangements for their colleagues to raise the questions on their behalf, to ensure parliamentary business proceeds smoothly and government officials are held accountable.
By Obegi Malack
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