Education crisis over miraa use

Education stakeholders in Kagaari Ward have raised concerns over increased consumption of miraa by pupils.

They argued that use of the stimulant and other drugs had resulted in poor performance in national examinations.

Woman Representative Jane Wanjuki, who spoke on behalf of Embu professionals, educationists and leaders, said she would sponsor a Bill in the National Assembly to spearhead boys' welfare.

The leaders said many boys were dropping out of school to farm miraa while some girls were ditching education to marry rich miraa farmers. Trade in the stimulant has become so lucrative, with some farmers earning up to Sh10,000 a day, that education is becoming irrelevant, they added.

The stakeholders said they intended to address the dire situation by actively engaging parents, teachers, communities and pupils from the 14 primary schools in the area.