NTURIBI: Abolish boarding schools

Boarding school fires have become a concern in light of the most recent case—Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri. Authorities have confirmed that 21 pupils were killed in the September 5 fire and others hospitalised with severe burns.

The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, but the country has been grappling with a troubling pattern of arson in boarding schools. In the past two decades, more than 100 students have lost their lives in school fires, raising alarm over safety protocols and student unrest.

Sadly, cases of school arson seldom lead to trials or convictions. The incarceration of a 14-year-old in connection with a fire at Moi Girls High School in Nairobi in 2017 that killed 10 students was unprecedented. The girl was sentenced to five years in prison for manslaughter in 2022.

The school fires have prompted debate over safety standards, the psychological welfare of students and the need for stricter regulations to prevent more accidents in future. 

According to a 2017 report by Kenya’s National Crime Research Centre, student arsonists often act out of frustration with inadequate school conditions or anger towards teachers they view as unapproachable. Additional motivations include exam stress, stringent regulations and long school terms.

In the 2001 Kyanguli Secondary School fire that killed 67 students, the two suspects who were charged with the arson attack were reportedly upset over the annulment of their exam results following a cheating investigation, among other grievances.

In 2021, following Covid-19 school closure, students told journalists that their days began at 4.30 am and ended at 10 pm to make up for lost study time. They also said the workload had increased significantly as teachers hurried to cover the curriculum.

The NCRC also linked school fires to peer pressure and imitation by students aware of similar incidents in other schools. A 2018 report commissioned by Parliament additionally highlighted substance abuse as a factor contributing to school unrest, including arson and student protests.

Moreover, the lack of adequate counselling services in schools was found to be worsening these problems. Boarding schools are themselves a problem and should be abolished. They do not change children’s lives but rather take their lives.

The government should grab the bull by the horns and abolish all boarding schools. Subsequently, the dormitories should be turned into classrooms to accommodate more students. Abolish boarding schools and save lives.

Lawyer. [email protected]