- Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a has urged parents to take a more active role in guiding and counseling their children.
- The legislator linked rising cases of school unrest to challenges that originate within families and communities.
- She called for greater collaboration between parents, teachers and government agencies to address learner indiscipline.
By John Kamau
Parents must play a more active role in counseling and guiding their children to help prevent incidents similar to the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory fire tragedy that claimed the lives of 16 learners, Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a has said.
The legislator urged parents and guardians not to abdicate their responsibility of shaping the character of their children and leave the task entirely to teachers.
Speaking during the disbursement of Sh17.7 million in bursary cheques to 2,500 tertiary institution students from her constituency, Ng’ang’a said parents should spend more time with their children to better understand the challenges they may be facing.
“Parents must get serious with their parental duties and responsibilities and speak to their children, especially during the midterm break. It has been revealed that the problem is deeply rooted within families and it is high time parents addressed it,” she said.
Ng’ang’a noted that the Utumishi tragedy had left many families devastated.
“It’s so painful that some parents are burying their daughters and it also hurts that some young girls behind the Utumishi arson attack have dented their future. We must address the issues affecting our children as stakeholders in the education sector,” she said.
Appeal to Learners
The MP also noted that learners at Chania Boys High School, where the event was held, had recently set part of the institution on fire, leading to its closure.
“The fire was swiftly contained and there was no severe damage or injuries to any of our students. I, however, urge our children to always speak out whenever they are faced with difficulties instead of resorting to actions that can risk their lives or jeopardize their future,” she said.
At the same time, Ng’ang’a commended students of Thika Girls School and Karibaribi Secondary School for remaining peaceful and avoiding acts of destruction witnessed in some schools.
She observed that parenting has become more complex due to changing times and increasing awareness among children of their rights.
Criticism of County Roads
The MP also criticised the Kiambu County Government for neglecting roads within her constituency.
She vowed to mobilise resources from the national government to help address infrastructure challenges affecting residents.
Thika West Deputy County Commissioner James Wanyoike called for greater collaboration among all stakeholders in the education sector to address school unrest and promote discipline among learners.
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He said coordinated efforts involving parents, teachers, school administrators and government agencies were necessary to curb cases of indiscipline and create safer learning environments.
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