School heads instructed to admit learners affected by floods unconditionally

Headteachers across the country have been instructed to admit learners affected by floods without any conditions.

Schools reopened for the second term on May 13, after two postponements over floods that have ravaged the country since last month.

Director of Planning at the State Department for Basic Education Masini Ichwara said the same has been communicated to all headteachers across the country.

School heads told to admit learners affected by floods unconditionally 

Ichwara was speaking at Iftin Primary School in Garissa when he led the tree planting exercise in schools in the area.

Ichwara was accompanied by senior education officials from the region.

In Garissa Township, Hyuga Girls and Bula Argi were the most affected with the latter remaining closed since the effects were severe.

The students have since been transferred to the nearby Madarasa school as a temporary measure.

Several schools among them Young Muslim High School, Jaribu Primary, Kazuko Primary School and NEP Technical College were also hosting IDPs.

They have however since been relocated to pave way for learning to continue uninterrupted.

Garissa has the largest number of IDPs, totaling 21,770  across 12 camps. Among these are students who have been displaced from their homes.

“The schools are under instructions to accommodate all the IDP students in the nearby schools as the situation normalizes and then they will be able to go back to their schools. For now, let them come to school with the uniforms they have from the previous schools and start learning,” Ichwara said.

“We know parents have been affected by these floods and they might not have resources to buy new uniforms and the extra cost will be a burden to them and that is why we call on the schools' heads to bear with the situation which is temporary,” he added.

He said the Ministry of Education is doing everything possible to have all children go back to their respective schools.

He further disclosed that the emergency kitty promised by President William Ruto will go a long way in helping all learning institutions that were affected by the floods.

Ichwara encouraged the school heads to enter the learners into the NEMIS Systems so that capitation can be channeled to every pupil who deserves it.

“We know that there is a problem with birth certificates, we encourage the local administration especially the chiefs and the birth and death registration offices to closely work with schools and parents so that these kids can be able to be given birth certificates,” he said.

“The government has committed itself that capitation is being provided to every child and therefore these learners should be captured. We are asking parents at least to work with the heads of institutions to be able to have these kids in place,” he said.

He also called on parents, organisations and well-wishers to support the school feeding programe saying that the government alone cannot do it due to budget constraints.

“I think as parents we also need to chip in in terms of giving food in kind for the kids to be able to benefit. These are our children and we all have a role to play in ensuring that they continue with their studies uninterrupted,” he said.

On the issue of teacher shortage that has remained a point of concern, Ichwara said that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) was working round the clock to address the matter.

He called for patience from all stakeholders.

Adan Roble, North Eastern Regional director of education said that all the schools in the region are now open.

He said learning was going on except for two schools; one in Garissa and another one in Bura Subcounty which are still submerged in flood waters.

He said learners from the affected schools have been relocated to nearby schools where they will be hosted before the school’s infrastructure is repaired and reconstructed.

He said that in Wajir and Mandera no school has been affected by floods.

Iftin Primary headteacher Siyat Hussein Noor acknowledged the challenge schools in the region have had as far as acquiring birth certificates was concerned.

He said this has a direct impact on schools' funding since they are not captured in NEMIS.

“As a region, we are very much affected by this. Most of the schools receive less funds not because they don’t have the numbers in schools but because majority are not captured on NEMIS,” Noor said.

Noor who is also the Kepsha Chairman Garissa County said that going forward they will coordinate with other stakeholders including the register of birth and deaths, and the chiefs to make sure that learners get the documents.

On the issue of school feeding programe, the headteacher said it remained a big challenge.

He noted that it was one of the things that mainly attracted students to go to school.

He however remained optimistic that by next week things will be okay.