In the recent past, the Principal Secretary of Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang’, opened a can of worms when he hinted the government’s plan to abolish boarding schools from Grades 1-9. He then went quiet about it.
Then, it seems the Hillside Endarasha fire that killed 21 pupils revived the debate about the viability of boarding schools. The new Cabinet Secretary of Education Julius Ogamba commented that the decision to abolish boarding schools and reviewing age limits for children in boarding schools cannot be solely made by the Ministry. It requires public participation.
Somewhat, some educational stakeholders think, it is wrong to have boarding primary schools, whether private or public. Yet, such institutions have been extant since pre-independence. Then, primary boarding schools that are run well in strict adherence to safety standards do not experience disasters that dim lives.
Likewise, there is another belief that abolishing boarding schools at the primary level will cause parents to be close to their children. That children in boarding schools are denied the basic right to meet their parents on a daily basis. Proponents of that new notion believe that abolishing boarding schools will make parents to play their part better than they have done before. Of course, one wonders, whether the exponents of that idea are balancing optimism with realism.
Arguably, some of us are forgetting that we are caught up in a rat race. Some parents are busy bees, chasing cash with craze in order to eke out a living. Some parents are in ‘nomadic’ jobs, where they keep hopping from town to town. Meaning, if we abolish boarding schools so that parents can have more contact hours with their children, then we are utterly wrong. My point is, at a certain reasonable age, children are safer in school with teachers, who are masters of many trades — educators, mentors, disciplinarians, et cetera.
Somehow, in the move to abolish boarding schools, we are failing to look at both sides of the coin. Yet, we should put both merits and demerits on a beam balance. As a scribe, I think, abolishing boarding schools is not a good idea.
Firstly, think of the fate of girls in regions where there are retrogressive cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriages. Boarding schools in such regions act as rescue centres for girls who can access boarding schools. Therefore, abolishing boarding schools will kill several dreams.
Secondly, think of children from Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). Such places are marginalised, with poor infrastructure and sub-standard social amenities. Insecurity is also rampant. Schools in such hinterlands cannot be compared with the ones based in some major towns. This implies that in case good schools are only in specific regions, then it is a bad idea to abolish boarding schools that can only be accessed from far.
Thirdly, when we study the academic performance in most primary schools, we shall ascertain that the ones that allow pupils to board, register peak performance. This is true because pupils in boarding schools have more contact hours with books. The academic environment gives them ample time to concentrate on studies. Unlike their counterparts in day schools who sometimes waste a lot of time commuting to and from school. Day scholars without self-drive, self-discipline and serious sense of responsibility waste a lot of time on forms of electronic media and social sites.
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Then, media malady makes some learners in day schools to struggle in matters time management. It is also instructive to note that it is possible to expand learning time in boarding schools because learners are in school all the time. As a scribe at home with Education Psychology, I know that there are individual differences in learners. There are learners who can only get it right when schools create more contact hours between teachers and learners.
Moreover, there are investors in education that own and run private schools. In order to keep afloat and make business a going concern, it behooves them to diversify. Somewhat, schools of this calibre based in major urban centres will fold in cases the mandarins at the Ministry maintain their stance. Some investors in the education sector may close shop and go home. Why? When they phase out boarding section, the enrollment will nose-dive. Therefore, after the death of such schools, the government will dampen the spirit of many job creators. In turn, the government will lose some serious taxpayers. The wound of joblessness will fester faster. Then, increase crime rate.
Finally, when the government becomes hell-bent on abolishing boarding schools, can we also pause a little, and think about the plight of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) who find more hope, help, peace and solace in boarding schools?
© Victor Ochieng’
The writer rolls out talks and training services. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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