Following advice from the Kenya meteorological department, government announced reopening of schools Monday next week for the second term.
President William Ruto at the State House, Wednesday May 9, said, “All Parents are now advised, based on the assessment of weather by experts, that it is safe for our children to go back to school.”
However, some parents are still worrying about the safety of their children when schools reopen. The destruction caused by floods as a result of heavy rains, many parents are skeptical to release their children back to school.
Floods have resulted in the loss of lives and the displacement of people in various parts of the country. Some of those displaced by the floods have sought shelter in public schools. It has also caused several roads impassable. While some schools are ready to receive learners, others have been greatly affected and require repairs before reopening.
Also, some schools are currently inaccessible due to damaged roads and bridges which have burst their banks.
With classrooms and toilets submerged as well, some institutions have a long way to go before they are ready to resume learning.
The state of such schools poses danger to the health of learners and staff members. The digging of new latrines proves to be a challenge due to the high water table caused by the heavy rains.
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President Dr William Ruto said that the NG-CDF will be used to repair the affected schools. The Ministry of Education also requested schools administration throughout the nation to submit reports concerning the state of their schools by Friday, May 10.
For instance at Mathenya Day Mixed Secondary School in Laikipia County, all 14 latrines are submerged. “We don’t have an immediate solution to this problem since digging new ones is not practical at the moment due to the high water table resulting from the heavy rains,” said Felix Hamda, the County Director of Education.
Several roads, in some parts of Kerio Valley, have been paralysed by landslides. Interviewed parents said the rains will subject day scholars to a lot of challenges.
“Day scholars will be hard-hit considering that they will be required to cross flooded rivers and damaged infrastructure which exposes them to risk of floods,” Mary Chepkemboi from Cheptiret, Uasin Gishu county said.
“There is no precise number of schools that have been damaged by the floods, but what I know is that some toilets have been destroyed after they were submerged while damaged infrastructure will require renovation,” said Dr Edison Nyale, Uasin Gishu Commissioner.
In Nyando, Kisumu County, at least 16 schools are still submerged, according to the County Commissioner, Benson Leparmorijo.
Some parents also doubt as to whether such repairs can be done in time for the opening of schools as instructed by the government.
By Frank Mugwe
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