Ministry issues stern warning to students burning schools

By Roy Hezron(Education News Kenya — https://educationnews.co.ke/news/ministry-issues-stern-warning-to-students-burning-schools)

The Principal Secretary for Early Learning and Basic Education Dr. Julius Jwan has asked security agencies to make thorough investigations into the burning of dormitories in secondary schools in parts of the country.

Speaking at Mauta Primary School in Mfangano Island in Mbita Sub County, Dr. Jwan said destruction of property is a criminal activity and that the culprits will face the full force of the law.

‘It doesn’t matter how annoyed you are. The age of the student involved in such an act also doesn’t matter,’ he said.

He made an extensive tour of schools in the area to establish the state of infrastructure, distribution of textbooks and other instructional materials as well as the number of teachers in the schools.

The schools toured include Kibwigi Primary school on Kibwigi Island, Ringiti Primary school, Mauta Primary school, Mauta Mixed secondary school and Mfangano Vocational Training Centre on Mfangano Island.

Dr. Jwan also called on all stakeholders to take responsibility and guide students accordingly.

‘Secondary school principals should create a friendly environment where learners can learn without having unwanted stress,’ he said.

He also urged them to listen to the grievances of their students and stressed that the government will not underwrite the cost of the damage the students had caused and that parents will have to bear the costs.

Chief Administrative Secretary Dr. Sarah Ruto said the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will register Kibwigi Primary school as a Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination centre   once the school applies.

She said the minimum of 30 candidates KNEC required to register a school as an examination centre was not rigid.

She was responding to complaints that KCPE candidates in Kibwigi Primary school had to be transported by boats to sit for KCPE exams in other schools as the school has less than 30 candidates.

Accompanying the CAS and PS were area senior education officials in Homa Bay County, security officers and leaders of the local community led by Dr. Mark Matunga who is Education manager at Microsoft East and Central Africa.