Kenyan children studying under the local curriculum have never gone through such a rigorous school calendar.
Terms are squeezed, the workload heavy, school breaks short with no extracurricular activities.
This is aimed at recovering the one year lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the brain can only absorb so much.
Take for instance this term's break, which begins on December 23 with the children expected back on January 4. This is just a 10-day break after a rigorous 12-week term.
Burnout is a recognised health condition that leads to mental, physical and emotional exhaustion.
Its main cause is working under severe stress, which schoolchildren and teachers have gone through during this Covid-19 period.
The students, left with no channel to deal with burnout, have resorted to burning schools, which definitely is the wrong way to exhale.
They are sending a message, but no one wants to listen to them. Instead, leaders and policymakers have resorted to condemnation and the push for the re-introduction of the cane.
The era of using the rod with the hope that this will straighten the child is long gone.
Educationists, policymakers and parents must change tack to deal with the emerging challenges.
If you were brought up with the cane, don't assume this will work with the current generation.
Quote of the Day: "Dear parents, teach your children to pray. Pray with them."
Pope Francis
He was named Time magazine's person of the year on December 11, 2013
