By Tony Wafula
Pupils at Chebunyinyi ACK Primary School in Kabuchai constituency Bungoma County are using bush toilets because of inadequate pit latrines.
Teachers at the school fear the open defecation could either cause a disease outbreak or that some of the more than 450 pupils could be bitten by snakes while relieving themselves in the bushes.
Speaking to Education News at the school, head teacher Maurice Wanyonyi, said that the school has only four latrines serving both the primary and secondary sections.
He appealed to area MP Majimbo Kalasinga to help build new latrines because public health officers have threatened to close the school.
“I have been warned by public health officers to move with speed and build new latrines but my hands are tied because I need support from well-wishers, “he said.
He said that the last time the school received funding from NG-CDF was in 2016 from the late MP James Mukwe.
Mr. Wanyonyi also pointed out that Chebunyinyi had been performing poorly in national exams but improved this year when the first candidate scored over 300 marks.
“No candidate had ever scored over 300 marks in KCPE over the past seven years. I want to co-operate work with parents and other stakeholders to recover the lost glory of this school,” he said.
The school received a commendation certificate from the education office stating that it’s the most improved school in Bungoma Central after posting good results in KCPE.
“I’m asking parents and the community around the school to work together so that we can realize better results in future years,” he said.
Public health officers have condemned the state of the school latrines and the kitchen as it risks the health of learner’s health.
He said an old boy had started building an administration block at the school but the project stalled due to Covid-19 pandemic and lack of funding.
“ The alumni was getting funding from abroad to facilitate the building of the administration block but the spike of Covid-19 pandemic made the donor withdraw. We therefore ask other well-wishers to chip in and help us finish this project,” Wanyonyi said.
He said he road connecting Sikusi junction and the school is in a pathetic state and asked the Bungoma county government to improve it.
Heavy rain in the area makes many learners fail to report to school on a daily basis due to poor road networks in the area which causes poor performance in national exams.
Deputy head teacher Pamela Biketi, who spoke to the media, appealed to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to help the school get more teachers.
She also asked well-wishers to help the school drill a borehole which will can serve the community around so that they can get clean water for use.
