Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has directed that claims of caning at a secondary school be investigated after a damning video surfaced online.
The video purports to show teachers caning students at Keveye Girls High School. This prompted Dr Matiang'i to make an impromptu visit to the school at 8:50am yesterday.
"To be honest, there is a little bit of exaggeration regarding the video that is circulating on social media," Matiang'i said.
He added: "I'm very much impressed by what I have seen in the school today. From how the students behave and from their performance that I have seen, it is evident that this is one of the best schools we have in the country now," he said.
He said the phone calls he had received from parents and other concerned parties made him visit the school.
READ MORE
Maraga criticises government over Grade 10 rollout
930,000 students join senior schools
Vihiga family appeals for help to trace abducted kin
Why Education Ministry wants 1,000 senior schools upgraded to national status
"Let us not put too much politics and innuendos in this matter as the principal and teachers are doing a commendable job. We will act on anyone found culpable after the county education leaders and school management have investigated fully," he said.
The CS held a meeting with teachers and then met with the school management before addressing the students.
"The ministry will come in and settle everything that is of concern and that may hinder provision of quality education to students," he said.
He was accompanied by Vocational and Technical Education Principal Secretary Dinah Mwinzi, Director of Basic Education Leah Rotich, and head of protocol in the ministry Ruth Agesa.
Matiang'i reassured students of the Government's commitment to supporting them to learn in an enabling environment.
He said the ministry would provide funds for the school to expand its facilities to cope with the high number of students enrolled in Form One this year.
School Principal Judith Ngome dismissed claims that the video was recorded in her school.
"There are many people who are not happy with the good performance of the school and maybe that is why they are trying to tarnish its name. This is pure malice," Ngome said.
The school topped Western region in the 2014 KCSE exams with a mean of 10.3, beating giants like Friends School Kamusinga, Musingu, Nyang'ori, Lugulu and Bunyore.
