Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) officials have, understandably, run into a sludgy soggy quagmire of unpreparedness while brainstorming apt ways of jumpstarting the inter-schools competition.
The officials swung into action after the Ministry of Education issued a directive okaying the resumption of co-curricular activities in local learning institutions, following a two-year lull occasioned by Covid-19.
In a circular signed mid-November by Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwan, the ministry instructed regional, county, and sub-county directors of education, to contemplate the safe resumption of inter-school activities in Kenyan institutions.
Education experts opine the ministry's decision could be a kneejerk reaction to the increasing student unrest being witnessed in the country. The unprecedented trend of students setting fire to school property is, undoubtedly, worrying.
If the reintroduction of co-curricular activities will be the panacea for the rampant school fires spreading across the country, then we most definitely welcome the idea.
Psychologists quip that co-curricular activities fuel learning by stimulating creative thought, improving social and organizational skills, and developing talents. On the other hand, their absence only serves to achieve a contrasting outcome.
Allow me to put this whole issue into perspective. The National Police Service said Tuesday they arrested five students suspected to have torched a dormitory at Masaani Girls Secondary School on November 5, leading to destruction estimated at Sh4 million.
The incident came hot on the heels of another one on Monday where 14 students of Kamuiru Boys Secondary School in Kirinyaga county were arrested after allegedly setting their dormitory on fire, leaving property worth thousands of shillings destroyed.
Other than the rampant cases of indiscipline, there are concerns the country could miss out on timely opportunities to tap into the vast talent hidden among the current crop of students.
Over the years, scouts from different disciplines have been thronging school games to identify budding talent. Some of the great names in the Kenyan sports arena have emerged from the championships.
Both Kakamega High School and Ofafa Jericho were once football strongholds. Lately, they seem to be churning out arsonists.
2019 national champions Kwanthanze Girls, have constantly supplied the women's national volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, with inundate talent.
The football scene is no different, with traditional soccer giants Kakamega High School and St. Anthony's Kitale moulding some of the luminaries who have gracefully donned the national colours.
Harambee Stars skipper, Michael Olunga, is the product of the solid foundations offered by the solid high school development structures.
However, even as the KSSSA honchos embark on a bumpy journey to map out a clear remedy, time is still of the essence, given only a month remains before schools dismiss students for second term holidays.
While appreciating this glaring hiccup, KSSSA chairman Peter Orero has indicated they could be forced to overpass some of the lower levels of competition with a view to aligning the championship with the school calendar.
The tournaments usually begin at the zonal stage and scale through the district, the regional all the way to the national finals.
Indeed, it is impracticable to stuff fixtures into the already congested calendar of events, especially considering the limited time available.
Hopefully, KSSSA will emerge with a viable solution at the end of the day.
