Secondary schools grapple with overcrowding

Achievingg100 percent transition to ensure all children are enrolled in school is a major problem due to overstretched facilities.

Several school heads disclosed to the Star they have used her alternative methods to cope with congestion.

A principal in Bomet county said the school admitted almost 560 students, so the school is building an extra dormitory for 300 students.

“With our our board of management we came up with a temporary dormitory. We used iron sheets outside and timber inside. It accommodates more than 200 students," he said.

The routine was changed so classes begin at 7.30am and not 8am so students are in shifts.

“The dining hall was meant for 400 students but the school has 1,600 students,” he added.

The teacher is afraid, however, the congestion is risky and could be dangerous in case of a stampede.

Government has released infrastructure funds to help buy desks, beds and laboratory equipment.

Michael Njenga, whose son is in Form Two in Kiambu county, said the boy has been sleeping in the dining hall.

The school had to increase the size of beds from double-decker to triple-decker to maximise the use of space, but it isn't enough.

 “When my son came for half term, he told me they have four rounds of meals because they are too many to fit in the small dining room," Njenga told the Star.

Parents contributed funds to build one dormitory and classroom.

“It is the welfare of our children we are looking at, we did that last year and we are doing it again this year. But now the school has to come up with a long-lasting solution,” Njenga said.

Another school in Nairobi county is struggling with a population of 1,700 students after enrolling 600 Form 1 students.

Students sleep in classrooms at night and use the same rooms for studies during the day.

“In this school, we use a cafeteria in the dining room. They are served in three shifts and then go outside to eat because there is no space," a teacher told the Star.

A girl's school in Vihiga county admitted almost 450 Form 1 students, up from almost 335 last year.

Facilities are overstretched and the school had to build an extra dormitory.

The school also had to increase the number of streams from six to eight, in Form 1.

Elsewhere, a school with 10 streams had to put up two more classrooms and a 200-bed dormitory for Form 1s, enrolling almost 700 learners.

Kenya National Parents Association chief Nicholas Maiyo asked the government to increase capitation for infrastructure to help solve the crowding crisis.

“For secondary schools, it is now Sh5,000 per student but we are requesting the ministry to at least make it Sh10,000 so school heads can use the funds to build more classrooms and dormitories,” Maiyo told the Star.

For primary schools, Maiyo requested an additional Sh1,000 per learner for infrastructure, up from the current Sh1,400.

He praised parents who have taken the initiative to contribute towards building more school facilities.

"That's right and the only thing we need to do is follow the procedure, write a proposal and have it approved. That is allowed," Maiyo said.

Elimu Scholarship National Coordinator Joseph Wasikhongo said school congestion was inevitable given thee congested calendar, dealing with Covid-19 and 100 per cent transition.

Wasikhongo faulted the government for failing to adequately support school heads, especially iin dealing with congestion. That help has not been forthcoming," he said.

Congestion is likely to interfere with the quality of education due to the inadequate number of teachers expected to serve many students.

“If we have to embrace issues like 100 per cent transition, we should also have genuine conversations around the quality of education we need to provide,” he added.

He commended Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha for attaining 98 percent transition, but called for conversations that will ensure the quality of education is maintained.

In July, the government allocated Sh4 billion in the financial year 2021-2022 towards scho0l infrastructure. 

The Ministry of Public Works estimates constructing a new classroom would cost Sh1.2 million, meaning only 4,000 new classrooms would be constructed with that money.

Yet, with the expected enrolment, 37,000 new classrooms would be required.

Anxiety has been high because of the few details available on actual construction or expansion launched countrywide.

After a nationwide audit by the ministry, most schools may not have new classrooms constructed as reports indicate the existing spaces are adequate.

State Department for Implementation of Curriculum Principal Secretary Fatuma Chege supervised the audit.

In the audit, the ministry said it was necessary to rationalise existing infrastructure and identify where it is necessary to do more.

Before Form 1 admission, the government allocated Sh4.2 billion to help improve infrastructure and Sh1.9 billion for chairs and desks for primary and secondary schools.

(Edited by V. Graham.