CS Fred Matiang'i now banks on national schools heads to stem students’ unrests

Education CS Dr Fred Matiang’i. PHOTO: FILE

NAIROBI: Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i is now reaching out to principals of national schools to mentor their colleagues to avert students’ unrests.

He said principals of the 105 national schools have a bigger role to play in calming down the worrying trend of schools' turbulence.

"If the more than 100 principals of national schools could mentor 500 schools within a year, and extend the mentorship to the next crop of schools, this cases of schools unrests would substantially reduce," Matiang'i said.

The CS made the plea during a luncheon he organised for school principals in Nairobi. Present were Higher Education PS Collette Suda, Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development CEO Dr Julius Jwan and Secondary and Tertiary Education Director Robert Masese.

"This will help enhance good practices in management and avert some of the challenges these schools face that lead to students unrests," said Matiang'i.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery said that investigations by his office revealed 120 reported cases of students’ unrests in the last 18 months. He said 92 cases happened in 2015, while 28 in the last six months.

"About 90 per cent of these cases emanate from secondary schools. They are the most vulnerable institutions for indiscipline cases," Nkaissery said.

The details came as some parts of the country are experiencing increased unrests, with secondary school dormitories being burnt down nearly every day. Nkaissery called for urgent measures to establish what had gone wrong with the institutions.

Matiang'i said his ministry would develop a programme under which principals of national schools will mentor the heads of the rest of other secondary schools.

During the meeting, secondary schools admitted to management challenges facing them. Principals of National Schools Chairperson Dorothy Kamwilu said they are overwhelmed and called for support.

She asked for support from all stakeholders to provide the stability the schools need to deliver quality education to all students without the distraction that unrests cause.

Nkaissery said the audit report by his ministry revealed that communication was the major gap. He asked principals to create communication lines for students to express their grievances.