By Munene Maina
The Ministry of Education has formulated appropriate measures and guidelines to ensure safety of leaners and teachers from terrorism and other threats, Cabinet Secretary Dr Amina Mohamed has said.
She called on all stakeholders and partners in the education sector to partner with the Ministry in mobilising the necessary resources needed for the exercise.
This follows the attack by suspected Al-shabaab militants at Qarsa Primary school in Wajir County that left three teachers dead in February.
The CS termed the assaults as ‘abhorrent and barbaric’ that brought immense pain to those who lost their beloved ones and great distress to the country. “At the Ministry of Education, we established contact and have been in touch with the school administration, security agents and leaders in Wajir County,” said Dr Amina.
She said the attack was a reminder of the terrorist threats in education institutions across the world adding the Government will stand in solidarity with everyone affected.
The killings sparked protests in Wajir Town with residents demanding action.
The non-locals teachers who have been the target during the attacks demanded their transfer from Wajir, Marsabit and Garissa counties.
Learning has been affected in many schools as non-local teachers who form a large per centage kept away from their stations for fear of attacks.
Teachers unions Knut and Kuppet have been calling on the Government to withdraw all teachers from terror-prone counties in North Eastern following the time to time attacks on teachers.
Teachers Service Commission transferred non-local teachers from Wajir after three of their colleagues were killed.
The TSC gave the affected teachers 14 days to notify the education director of the county they are transferring to.
“The county directors of those counties that you have been transferred to are requested to inform the headquarters of the date you report for duty so that your salary can be paid through the new station,” said a TSC letter.
