Indiscipline, peer pressure, political meddling and pressure for high grades contributed to more than 100 arson fires in high schools during last year’s second term.
One student died.
Too many exams, bad teaching, absent teachers, criminal gangs, lack sound intelligence-gathering, unpredictable calendars and mismanagement of resources were other factors.
They were cited by a task force that investigated the fires and their multiple causes. On Friday the task force presented its report to Education CS Fred Matiang’i.
It conducted interviews in 98 schools in 38 counties.
Dr Gracie Mulei said the fires were further fueled by social media use amongst students, sensational media reporting, congested dormitories and too much power vested in school prefects.
The task force recommended better staffing and resources and strict compliance with regulations. It made 29 recommendations.
