-
The writer argues that while the idea of scrapping boarding schools is often promoted as a progressive reform to strengthen family ties and reduce costs, it is not a practical solution in contexts like Kenya.
-
He emphasizes that boarding schools remain essential for learners in remote areas, where distance, poor infrastructure, and insecurity make daily commuting difficult, and their removal could increase absenteeism and widen educational inequality.
-
Although acknowledging concerns such as cost burdens, overcrowding, and occasional abuse, the writer suggests these should be addressed through reforms and better regulation rather than outright abolition.
-
Ultimately, he advocates for a hybrid education system where both boarding and day schools coexist, allowing flexibility based on geography and learner needs, rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all policy.
Scrapping boarding schools is often presented as a progressive reform aimed at strengthening family bonds, reducing costs, and improving child welfare.
While these intentions are valid, a blanket abolition of boarding schools may be unwise, especially in contexts like Kenya where geography, infrastructure, security, and social realities shape access to education in very different ways.
The issue is not simply whether boarding schools are good or bad, but whether removing them entirely would create more problems than it solves.
One of the strongest arguments against scrapping boarding schools is accessibility. In many rural and marginalized areas, learners travel long distances to reach the nearest secondary school. In some regions, students walk several kilometers daily, sometimes through harsh terrain or unsafe routes.
Boarding schools reduce this burden by providing a stable learning environment close to the institution. Eliminating them would likely increase absenteeism, lateness, and dropout rates, particularly among learners from low-income and remote households.
Closely tied to this is the issue of infrastructure inequality. Day schooling assumes that all regions have a dense and well-distributed network of schools. In reality, there are still areas where secondary schools are few and far between.
Without boarding facilities, education becomes unevenly accessible, with some learners enjoying smooth daily attendance while others struggle simply to reach school. In such a scenario, scrapping boarding schools could widen, rather than narrow, educational inequality.
Boarding schools also play a critical role in academic focus and discipline. While home environments can be nurturing, they can also be filled with distractions, responsibilities, or instability that interfere with study time.
ALSO READ:
Gov’t launches nationwide drive to enrol 2 million youth in TVET programmes
In boarding settings, learners benefit from structured routines, supervised study sessions, and reduced domestic interruptions. For many students, especially those preparing for national examinations, this structured environment is a major contributor to academic performance.
Another often overlooked function of boarding schools is their role in talent development and mentorship. Many institutions provide a controlled environment where learners can participate in sports, music, leadership training, and clubs without the constant pull of household duties.
Teachers and wardens often double as mentors, guiding students through adolescence in ways that extend beyond academics. Removing boarding schools could reduce these extended developmental opportunities, especially for learners who lack strong support systems at home.
However, critics of boarding schools raise important concerns that cannot be ignored. Issues such as overcrowding, poor diet in some institutions, emotional neglect, and in extreme cases abuse have been documented. There is also the concern that early separation of children from their families may weaken family bonds and emotional development.
These challenges are real and demand reform, not necessarily abolition. Strengthening regulation, improving funding, and enforcing safeguarding standards would address many of these problems more effectively than scrapping the system altogether.
In addition, boarding schools can sometimes become economically burdensome for parents. Fees, maintenance costs, and hidden charges may strain families, especially in times of economic hardship.
ALSO READ:
Kabete Polytechnic hosts International Research Conference to advance TVET transformation
This has led some to argue that expanding day schools would be more affordable and inclusive. While this is partly true, the solution lies in balancing affordability with accessibility, not eliminating boarding options entirely.
A more practical approach is a hybrid education system where both boarding and day schools coexist. This allows parents and learners to choose what best suits their circumstances. Urban areas with dense populations may rely more on day schools, while rural, arid, or geographically isolated regions continue to depend on boarding institutions. Such a model ensures flexibility and equity rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all structure.
It is also important to recognize that education is not only about proximity but about quality of environment. A child’s learning experience is shaped by safety, stability, discipline, peer influence, and teacher support.
For many learners, boarding schools provide a rare space where these conditions are consistently met. Removing them without strengthening home-based schooling environments risks lowering overall educational outcomes.
Ultimately, scrapping boarding schools entirely may be driven by idealism, but policy must be guided by context and practicality. The real challenge is not the existence of boarding schools, but how they are managed, funded, and integrated into a fair education system. Reforming them to be safer, more humane, and more inclusive is a more sustainable path than abolishing them.
A balanced education system recognizes diversity in learners’ needs and environments. For some, day schooling is ideal. For others, boarding school is the only viable path to consistent education. Eliminating one option removes choice and may unintentionally deepen inequality rather than solve it.
By Hillary Muhalya
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
