Private school proprietors vow to defy Kaimenyi’s directive to close

KENYA: Private schools in Nyeri have vowed to defy a directive by Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi to close down.

 

In a statement sent to media houses, private school proprietors observed that the directive applied double standards in learning institutions and extended marginalisation to learners in private institutions.

"When public universities close down, private universities do not close down," said Ngunjiri Wanjohi of Nyeri Kenya Private Schools Association.

He said the directive issued by Prof Kaimenyi last Friday had raised alarm, adding that the Government should hence provide security to private learning institutions to ensure that learning goes on uninterrupted.

The proprietors noted that the direction to close down schools and allow Form Four and Standard Eight learners in school was self-defeating since the learners would require teachers and other support staff to cater for their needs.

"By closing down the schools, the Kenyan child will be disadvantaged given that children in other countries are continuing with their studies yet the Kenya children will be expected to compete on the same global platform," read the statement.

Mr Wanjohi accused Kaimenyi of killing the spirit of creating employment, noting that private school proprietors would not be able to continue paying their employees once they close down the schools.

He said children in private schools were segregated against in various areas namely payment of KCSE, KCPE and other fees, ICT and computer programmes, development programmes in schools and the directive to close private schools would worsen the discrimination

On Saturday evening, Rebecca Njogu, the head teacher of the prestigious Mt Kenya Academy in Nyeri sent text messages to parents directing them to continue taking their children to school.

Mrs Njogu added that the school had taken precautionary measures that would enhance the safety of their children.

Anthony Njoroge, the head teacher of Kirori Baraka Academy in Nyeri, also said learning would continue in his school.