By Kese Werugha
Education Stakeholders in Kilifi County have blamed retrogressive cultural practices among the Mijikenda community for the deteriorating education standards.
Speaking at a forum hosted in Pwani University the participants pointed out that ‘disco-matanga’ during funeral ceremonies had led to a high school dropout rate due to teenage pregnancies and early marriages.
Kilifi County Commissioner Magu Mutindika warned parents against abetting early marriages.
“Civil education needs to be carried out to enlighten the community to abandon the negative traditional culture that is destroying our children’s future,” said Kilifi North Member of Parliament Dr Owen Baya.
The MP also noted most schools in the area had acute teachers’ shortage and lacked the necessary infrastructure.
