- Chavakali Boys, Moi Girls School in Marsabit and Sigalame Boys are among the schools that have been torched in the recent past.
- On Tuesday, Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua sought urgent action to tame the fires which he said are quickly getting out of hand.
Image: ANDREW KASUKU
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha is set to appear before Parliament to discuss the wave of fires in schools.
Also summoned is the leadership of school heads association.
Senators have summoned them to discuss the possible causes and future remedies to contain the infernos that have been witnessed in at least five schools across the country in the past week.
The lawmakers expressed concern about the incidents that have led to serious injuries to students, reduced dormitories to ashes and disrupted learning.
They blamed indiscipline, peer pressure, pressure on learners exerted by a congested and erratic academic calendar and the new Competency-Based Curriculum.
“There seems to be peer pressure. If these students see that school has been burnt, they also burn theirs,” Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja said.
On Sunday, fire gutted a dormitory at Buruburu Girls Secondary School, causing injuries to tens of learners who scrambled for safety in the night incident.
Chavakali Boys, Moi Girls School in Marsabit and Sigalame Boys are among the schools that have been torched in the recent past.
On Tuesday, Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua sought urgent action to tame the fires which he said are quickly getting out of hand.
He petitioned the House Education committee to summon the education stakeholders for a candid discussion on the causes and what could be done to contain the trend.
“The committee should investigate the factors behind the ongoing unrest in schools, such as Buruburu Girls among other secondary schools," he said.
Magoha, whose summon date will be communicated by the Education committee chaired by nominated Senator Alice Milgo, will explain proactive measures his ministry was undertaking to ensure smooth learning in schools.
He will also be expected to divulge the ministry’s plan to ease pressure on the learners who appear to be under pressure due to a congested calendar.
The ministry revised the academic calendar to recover time lost last year due to prolonged closure to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
Already, the ministry has announced dates for half-term as part of the efforts to reduce pressure on learners.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei termed as worrying the current school unrest and incidences of fires across the country and proposed scrapping of boarding schools.
“It seems there is some peer pressure. I think it is the right time to consider the system of boarding schools across the country,” he said.
“They (learners) are confined to the school environment for four months, piling more pressure," Cherargei said.
"Let’s make all schools to be day schools. Most of us parents have abdicated our roles, giving teachers extra burden.”
He called for the introduction of guidance and counselling centres and departments in schools to help students who may be undergoing emotional stress.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang blamed parents for the erosion of discipline.
“What our children are doing, is a reflection of what their parents are doing. When we are full of impunity, violating all Covid-19 protocols, our children are going to follow suit,” he said.
Kajwang said the situation has been worsened by the subsequent legislation that stripped teachers of authority to discipline errant students.
Narok Senator Ledama Olekina called for stakeholder engagement on CBC.
“CBC is the cause of everything. If you listen to students, the problem is that we do not have a consistent calendar. Students are in school for two weeks then they are sent home,” he said.
(edited by Amol Awuor)