This archive report was first published on 10 January 2020.
As thousands of students prepare to start their high school journey, a recent social media discussion brought back painful memories of my own time in boarding school. The stories shared were a raw and emotional testament to the trauma that many students endure in these institutions.
Visiting days, meant to be a time for parents to connect with their children, were often a nightmare for those who were neglected or abandoned. Some students relied on the kindness of their peers to get a meal, while others waited in vain for their parents to arrive.
One heart-wrenching story stood out – a boy who waited for his mother, only to learn that she had passed away while he was waiting. This is just one example of the many ways in which boarding schools can fail to provide a supportive and nurturing environment.
While some may argue that boarding schools foster independence and self-reliance, the reality is often far from it. The typical boarding school is a place of fear, bullying, and trauma, where students are left to navigate a complex and often hostile environment.
The first week of boarding school is a particularly challenging time, as students are thrust into a new and unfamiliar world. They are often at the mercy of their peers, who may be ill-mannered or menacing. Homesickness is a common experience, and many students beg their parents to take them home.
But the challenges don't end there. Students are often subjected to arbitrary punishments, such as being forced to till the land or slash grass, which do little to improve behavior and may even exacerbate rebellion.
As we send our children off to boarding school, it's time to think critically about the kind of environment we are sending them to. Is it really building them up, or breaking them down? The answer is clear – we need to do better.
Ms. Chege is the director of the Innovation Centre at the Aga Khan University's Graduate School of Media and Communications.
