Schools will not be closed as deputy president warns of tough action

Deputy President William Ruto declared that schools would not be closed and warned that criminals burning dormitories will be dealt with. (Photo: File/Standard)

The Government has ruled out the early closure of schools even as measures to curb a wave of arson were outlined after crisis talks.

Deputy President William Ruto declared that schools would not be closed and warned that criminals burning dormitories will be dealt with.

“There is no school that will be closed early and we will deal with crooks trying to undermine the initiatives of the Government,” said Ruto, adding that teachers, parents and students must resist indiscipline and destruction of facilities in schools.

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said: “We will not cave in to any pressure. We will not close any school early. Term dates will be followed to the logical conclusion.”

The deputy president spoke yesterday at the Nairobi School where he was accompanied by Matiang’i and Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang to inspect infrastructure projects.

They spoke as pressure mounted on the Government to end the crisis that has seen facilities in more than 110 secondary schools destroyed.

But a meeting involving Education ministry officials, head teachers, religious groups, and other State officials observed that school activities were running normally in “99 per cent of the country’s 9,300 secondary schools.” After the talks, participants agreed that it was not prudent to send away students two weeks earlier than the scheduled closing date, and directed principals to facilitate end term examinations.

Qualified counsellors

To stem the crisis, the meeting resolved that principals and officials of school boards of management hold talks with students and that the ministry and Teachers Service Commission to fast-track the establishment of Office of Chaplaincy in schools.

TSC announced on Wednesday the introduction of fully-fledged offices of qualified counsellors in secondary schools to attend to students’ social development and academic needs.

The special committee investigating causes of the chaos was directed to speedily complete its work and outline plans to implement recommendations.

The resolutions read by Anglican Church Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit also included a national education stakeholders meeting on September 23 and a call to all stakeholders to support ministry reform efforts.

“In light of the fact that only a few days are remaining for second term to end, principals are encouraged to finalise the normal school calendar,” said the joint statement.

The communication, also signed by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), said learners should be allowed adequate time to sit their end of term examinations before official closure on August 12.

But teachers’ unions differed with the resolution not to close schools and threatened to paralyse learning.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) issued a seven-day notice, after which members would boycott duty.

“We are giving the Government seven days to ensure that our demands to be acted upon,” said Omboko Milemba, Kuppet national chairman.

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion asked Education CS Matiang’i to close schools to stop the fires.

The Standard, however, established that the meeting was informed that closing schools would not be a long-term solution.

“The meeting heard that even if schools close now, once they open there are chances fires may still continue. So there was need to calm the situation as a lasting solution is sought,” said a member who attended the meeting.

And speaking yesterday at Nairobi School, Ruto said the Government would not back down on its determination to ensure the education sector is improved.

“There will be no cheating in examinations and we are determined to ensure so. And there shall be no negotiation on management of school resources,” said Ruto.

Reading the joint decision, Archbishop Ole Sapit said the fires were a major concern that must jointly be contained by parents, teachers, clergy, students and security officers.

Reveal cause

He said the joint committee appointed by the Ministry of Education and that of Coordination of National Government was asked to move fast with their investigations.

“They should reveal the root cause of the 2016 school fires in affected schools. The committee must also develop a clear implementation plan matrix for all their recommendations,” said the Archbishop.

“In the meantime, principals and boards of management should continue holding meetings with students to address any grievances,” said he said.

NCIC chairperson Francis ole Kaparo said the meeting resolved that the crisis was a concern for all Kenyans.

“All stakeholders must support the Ministry of Education’s reform measures meant to streamline the education sector by urgently ending unrest in schools.”