The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Ezekiel Machogu, has asked head teachers from schools across the country to ensure that food they serve to learners is safe for consumption in a quest to improve hygiene in schools and in order to avert tragedies.
He also said that the water that is being used for cooking and drinking in the schools must regularly be inspected to avoid possible harm if the water is not properly treated.
He made the remarks while gracing of the 7th graduation ceremony of Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI) held at Jamhuri High School yesterday.
Last month, Mukumu Girls High School was closed indefinitely after four of their students and a teacher, who at the same time used to serve as a boarding mistress, succumbed to organ failure which resulted from a bacteria caused by contamination of water. Over 500 students were admitted to different hospitals.
Also, Kaaga Boys High School in Meru was another notable school to be closed due to related hygiene cases where, according to reports, at least over 100 students have received treatment since April 1.
At the same time, Machogu asked teachers to desist from meting out corporal punishment to students, saying that the practice will be termed as criminal.
“Once a teacher indulges in it, is a criminal activity,” Machogu said.
He also said the government had already sent Ksh 9.6 billion to the Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and urged the school heads to use the disbursements prudently. He added that the government through the Presidential Working Party on education Reforms, will address the curriculum load by reducing the number of subjects being taught in JSS.
Machugu said the government, in partnership with the World Bank, will equip science laboratories in JSSs.
The ceremony was attended by; Chairman of KEMI Governing Council, Dr. Mercy Karogo, KEMI’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Maurice Odondo, representatives from state corporations in the ministry, council members and the management of the institute.
By Vostine Ratemo
Get more stories from our website: Education News
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
