This archive report was first published on 2 November 2021.
Student unrest has gripped the country, with schools across the nation experiencing a wave of destruction and chaos. The root cause of this unrest, according to school heads, lies in the demanding crash programme introduced to make up for the time lost during the 10-month closure of schools last year.
With no breaks in sight, students are feeling the pressure, leading to a series of incidents, including fires, vandalism, and student unrest. The situation has become so dire that school heads are now calling for a half-term break to ease the pressure.
“We shouldn’t wait for other schools to be burnt down before we approve a break,” said Mr. Kahi Indimuli, the chairperson of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha). “We’ve written to the Ministry of Education, requesting a break because it’s necessary based on the information we’re getting from our members,” he added.
Mr. Indimuli also called for the resumption of co-curricular activities, such as sports, drama, and music, which were suspended when schools reopened as one of the measures to stop the spread of Covid-19. “We forgot that we have students who have a lot of energy and they look forward to participating in these events,” he said.
On Sunday evening, a fire broke out at Buru Buru Girls’ High in Nairobi County, with students jumping from the second floor to escape the flames. The cause of the fire has not yet been established, and the school was closed. This incident is just one of many that have occurred in recent weeks, with over 20 institutions reporting similar incidents.
Other schools affected by unrest include Dr. Krapf Memorial (Kilifi), St. Peter’s Abwao Secondary (Migori), Sigalame Boys High (Busia), Kanjuri High (Nyeri), St. Ignatius Mukumu Boys Secondary (Kakamega), and Keveye Girls High (Vihiga). The wave of student unrest has left in its wake destruction worth millions of shillings, with parents worrying about their children’s safety.
“We’re concerned for their safety. Many dormitories don’t have adequate security and are easily accessible, even by outsiders,” said Mr. Nicholas Maiyo, the national chairperson of the parents’ association. He added that the crash programme might have a negative effect on discipline.
The secretary-general of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), Mr. Akelo Misori, said schools face numerous problems, including over-enrolment in boarding schools. “Are boarding schools still relevant? We’ve insisted on boarding schools but failed to provide sufficient infrastructure,” he said.
Mr. Misori also observed that the 100 per cent transition policy has not been matched with infrastructure expansion. “Schools are congested. Teachers don’t even know their students and in such a case, it’s difficult to monitor their discipline,” he said.
Ms. Florence Mutua, the chairperson of the Education and Research Committee of the National Assembly, called for regular testing of students suspected of drug abuse. She also called for a progressive reduction of boarding schools to allow parents to have more time with their children.
On the same day, 24 learners from two schools in Nyeri were arraigned on charges of arson and/or possession of drugs. The wave of student unrest has left in its wake destruction worth millions of shillings, with parents worrying about their children’s safety.
