- Kerongorori Secondary Principal Peter Nyamoko urged parents to guide children even after joining colleges and universities.
- He warned of peer pressure, drug abuse, sexual exploitation, financial mismanagement, cultism, and mental health struggles.
- Nyamoko appealed to parents, churches, and community leaders to mentor freshers during their first year.
Parents have been urged not to abandon their children once they join colleges and universities, but to continue guiding them through one of the most delicate stages of their lives.
Kerongorori Senior Secondary School Principal Peter Nyamoko told parents that paying fees alone is not enough, stressing the need for follow‑up, counselling, and instilling Christian values to help students adjust to new environments. “A university student is still your child. Call them, visit them, know their friends, know where they sleep. Guide them in faith and values so they can complete school with dignity,” he said.
Nyamoko noted that the transition from secondary school to university exposes freshers to new freedoms, friends, and pressures without close supervision. He warned that many students fall into peer pressure and bad company, leading to drug and substance abuse in hostels outside campuses. Addiction, he said, often results in poor performance, misuse of fees, and eventual dropout.
He also highlighted the dangers of sexual immorality and exploitation, where young students enter relationships for financial support or gifts, exposing them to unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and emotional stress.
ALSO READ:
Governor Mutuma uses sports to champion the fight against GBV, teenage pregnancy and drug abuse
Financial mismanagement was cited as another challenge, with many students mishandling HELB loans and upkeep funds by spending on luxuries, partying, or gambling, leaving them broke mid‑semester and unable to focus on studies.
Nyamoko further cautioned against cultism, radicalization, and criminal gangs that prey on lonely freshers in off‑campus hostels, luring them into cybercrime, betting, and fraud. He added that mental health struggles such as depression, anxiety, and homesickness are common, sometimes pushing students to self‑harm or quit school.
The principal appealed to parents not to assume maturity based on age, but to remain actively involved in their children’s lives. He urged churches, community leaders, and university administrations to collaborate in mentoring freshers, describing the first year as the foundation of their entire academic journey.
By Enock Okong’o
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.
