Teacher’s gruesome murder a wake-up call to ministry, schools and parents

The murder of a young teacher by a suspected gang of students in Nakuru County on Thursday night is a chilling reminder of how indiscipline in schools can be disastrous. The incident not only sent chills down the spines of other teachers but also left education stakeholders with more questions than answers.

Peter Omare of Hopewell High School in Barut was hit on the head with a blunt object shortly after settling his students for the evening preps. Before the attack, Omare had confiscated a mobile phone from a Form Four student whom he had caught receiving it from outsiders through the fence. Two students are in custody over the murder.

In the past, there have been many cases of gross indiscipline involving students. Two years ago, students engaged in a school-burning spree where dormitories, classes and administration blocks were razed down in a sickening trend akin to madness.  

Just two months ago, a video emerged of Ambira Boys High students insulting Education CS Amina Mohammed and her Interior counterpart Fred Matiang’i. There have also been cases of students engaging in sex orgies not to mention the infamous bullying in some schools.  

We believe the rising wave of indiscipline in schools must be tackled at the earliest and everyone should play a part. We challenge parents to take even a more proactive role in shaping the behaviour of their children. Left alone, government and churches will only scratch the surface. When teacher-student or parent-child relationships fluctuate due to indiscipline, performance suffers. When some students are unruly hence unwilling to learn, they prevent willing ones from concentrating in class.

We have seen cases of teachers shunning some schoolsbecause of unruly conduct of students. This is why Omare’s death should be a wake-up call. We urge authorities to ensure those behind his death face the full force of the law. Indeed, the government should rethink its policies with regards to the enforcement of law and order in learning institutions.  

We urge school administrations to take bold steps to address lack of guidance and counselling, peer pressure and drugs. They should henceforth involve students in schoolmanagement using better ways.