Teachers use charcoal to write as shortage of learning materials persists

 

Police officer takes cover along at river Tikaluk along Mukutani - Kiserian road after Suspected Pokot Bandits staged an attack to displaced residents of Mukutani Village in Baringo South while they were being evicted from the village to Eldume Primary school in Marigat .PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

Learning is yet to resume in several schools in insecurity-prone parts of Baringo County even as Form Four and Class Eight candidates prepare for their national exams.

With only a few months to the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, uncertainty has gripped learners in different schools where learning was paralysed as a result of banditry attacks that started early this year.

In Losambumbur Primary School in Marigat, there is an influx of pupils after they were forced to flee Mukutani Primary School because of insecurity.

The 187 pupils who fled with their families and settled in Eldume IDP camp, now lack learning materials, with many fearing they will perform poorly in the coming exams.

The lack of books and other stationery in the school poses a major challenge to the teachers and pupils.

"Teachers do not have textbooks and pupils do not have exercise books," said Jackson Lekombe, their head teacher.

According to the teacher, all their learning materials were left behind as they fled their homes months ago.

"We left all our belongings when we fled. We did not have time to pick our books and we cannot go back for them because it is not yet safe," said Mr Lekombe.

The head teacher, however, said they had over the time depended on the neighbouring schools to provide them with books.

"We depend on teachers from other schools and our friends to give us course books. They only give us one book to be used by all the pupils and teachers," he added.

Lekombe said the students had recorded a 50 per cent drop in performance.

Lack books

The teachers use charcoal pieces instead of chalks as the students write on the ground due to lack of books.

"We are forced to use charcoal as the students write on the ground. Our class sessions are conducted under trees," Micheal Narewo, another teacher, said.

According to Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Wanyama Musiambo, the security operation is still ongoing in security-prone areas of Baringo and Laikipia.