BIG READ: Domestic problems hurt grades in Kiambu schools

Kiambu used to record great results in academics. But as the county progresses, the standards of education are deteriorating, prompting frantic efforts to regain its glory.

The county has leading national high schools and primary schools, including private and international schools, but doubts arose after it recorded its worst results in the exams last year. More than 70 per cent of students who sat KCSE had D+ and below.

There are 460 public primary schools and 420 private primary schools, with a total population of 355,955 children. In secondary schools, there are 286 public and 101 private secondary schools with a total of 140,000 students. There are also two teacher training colleges, Kilimambogo and Thogoto.

Despite boasting a transition rate to secondary schools of 93 per cent, with 47,000 sitting for KCPE exams last year and 44,000 joining form one, this has not contributed to the success of many schoolchildren.

Kiambu primary schools scored a mean grade of 250 marks in last year's KCPE exam, with a mean score of 3.7 in secondary schools. And this was not a one-off; the county has had an academic decline the past five years.

The root causes, says county education director Victoria Mulili, are child labour, drug abuse, alcoholism and negligence of schoolchildren by their parents.

Mulili told the Star many schoolchildren and students, especially in day schools, are being involved in economic activities, and hence do not concentrate in school work.

"There are parents who are not keen on whether their children go to school or not or how they are performing in school. Due to economic strain, they encourage their children to go for work instead, hence the child does not have a consistent stay in school to study," she says.

ALCOHOLISM FACTOR

Mulili says due to the domestic problems children find themselves in, they seek solace in the world of alcoholism and substance abuse.

"They lack role models since the parents might be alcoholics or drug abusers, which will lead to them also abusing substances," she says.

She adds that students in day secondary schools have become bhang peddlers as they are not easily suspected, with many being hooked to bhang and continuing with the vice during holidays.

"This is a problem we are dealing with at school level, but when schools break, we have no control over the students. And this is where parents ought to be on the lookout of their children since they are also lured into alcoholism and drug taking," Mulili says.

She says gambling has also taken a toll on students. With smartphones comes access to the internet, which has only served to add fuel to the fire by propagating drug sources. 

Mulili also blames a rise in teenage pregnancies for the academic malaise.

"Girls who are ferried by boda bodas are easily being lured into early sex. Parents are also exposing their girls to possible abuse by allowing them to be transported by rogue boda boda operators," Mulili says.

The county security team has been coordinating with the Education department to reach out to parents in the grassroots to compel them have their children go to school or face the law.

"We apprehend parents who do not take their children to school, as there is the notion by some parents that one does not have to make it by going to school,"  Mulili says.

Teachers’ motivation for academic excellence has waned because of the constant blame and the never-ending unresolved indiscipline cases among students.

Mulili promised to punish teachers who are neglecting their responsibilities. 

CALLS FOR CHANGE

County commissioner Wilson Wanyanga urged principals of public secondary schools not to make too many demands on students. He says it is not worth it to deny students secondary education over demands beyond their parents' reach.

On its part, the Education department has strived to ensure Early Childhood Development centres are fully functional with better infrastructure and that technical training institutes are also operational.

Education executive Joseph Kangethe said in all the 12 subcounties, there is a programme officer who ensures there is 100 per cent transition to ECDs. They  have started a school feeding programme so they can keep the children in schools and have their parents go for work.

"By improving the two levels of ECDs and vocational training centres, we are complementing the primary and secondary levels, so the child can have a good foundation and also after completion of O-levels, they can have a chance of training, which is free of charge," Kangethe said.

Governor Ferdinand Waititu said children entering form one are being given a raw deal in form one selection to national schools. Even after performing better, they are not enrolled in national schools within the county.

"It is really demoralising for our children to perform well in schools but they are not considered to enter Mangu or Alliance High School, which could also be a factor of bad results within the county, and yet the schools were built by Kiambu people and governments. You hear our children have been selected to a school in Garrissa, Makueni, or far away schools," Waititu said.

Waititu is pushing through the county assembly a law that all national schools in the county have one classroom for locals to be enrolled in.

"If you go to the national schools in Kiambu, there are few or no students from the county, which is why we are seeking to change the situation," Waititu said.

LEVEL PLAYING FIELD?

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria also took issue with form one selections. He said all schools should be of the same level so selection can be done fairly.

"We should not have national schools. Let schools be of the same level, so maybe the likes of Alliance, Mangu and others can have our children enrolled in the schools," he said.

Kiambu held an Education Day at Ndumberi grounds, where Education PS Belio Kipsang was the chief guest. He praised the county education team for efforts to improve education by improving infrastructure, adopting the new competency-based curriculum and having political goodwill.

However, contrary to local leaders, the PS backed the guidelines in the placement of KCPE students into secondary schools.  

Kipsang said the government has issued Sh1.8 billion in this financial year to be used in constructing classrooms, laboratories and sanitation facilities. Last year, Sh1.97 billion was issued to revamp infrastructure due to the increased enrollment of students under the 100 per cent transition policy.