Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has called on parents to take an active role in mentoring and counseling their children to curb the rising cases of school unrest and arson incidents across the country.
Speaking during an education stakeholders’ meeting, Ogamba said that while the government continues to invest heavily in improving learning facilities, it is parents who ultimately bear the financial burden of rebuilding school infrastructure destroyed during riots and fire incidents.
“We also ask parents to engage their children, encouraging them to resolve issues amicably so that we do not reach the point of destroying school property, which becomes costly,” he emphasised.
The CS noted that indiscipline and poor communication between students, teachers, and parents have been major contributors to unrest in schools.
He urged parents to maintain close contact with their children and school authorities to detect and address early signs of trouble before they escalate.
Ogamba reiterated that the government will not tolerate acts of vandalism and indiscipline in learning institutions.
READ ALSO:
KUSNET reassures SNE teachers that President Ruto’s promotion pledge still stands
He warned that students found culpable of destroying property will face legal consequences and be compelled to pay for the damages.
He further directed school heads to enhance guidance and counselling programs and create safe spaces for learners to express their concerns.
“Discipline and dialogue must be at the center of our education system. We cannot allow destruction to become a form of communication,” he added.
Cases of student unrest have been reported in several counties especially Bomet and Kericho over the past few weeks, with learners citing pressure from academic workloads and restrictions in school routines.
In some institutions, dormitories and classrooms have been set ablaze, forcing temporary closures and disrupting learning for thousands of students.
Education officials have expressed concern over the trend, saying that while some grievances raised by students are genuine, violence and destruction of property cannot be tolerated.
They urged parents, teachers, and community leaders to work together in addressing the root causes of indiscipline and restoring sanity in schools.
By our reporter
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news.
