Teachers blame 55 pregnancies on farm workers

By Peter Mutai

Fifty-five girls dropped out of a school in Rift Valley Province due to pregnancies in the last four years, teachers say.

A report by staff at Kericho’s Marinyn Secondary School released to Education Assistant Minister Calist Mwatela showed the girls dropped out between 2005 and this year.

The document contradicts a report by the school’s principal John Ruto to the ministry, showing only two girls have dropped out due to pregnancy.

"I was surprised when The Standard published the story about the school which prompted the ministry to instruct the PDE Rift Valley to prepare a report. It claims only two girls had dropped out school contrary to the report we have now," said the Assistant Minister.

The teachers claimed employees of James Finlays Tea Limited were mainly responsible for the pregnancies.

Their report also said poverty had forced girls to look for ways to survive at the expense of education.

In the report, nine girls dropped out in 2005 alone, out of the 69 girls admitted that year.

"At the end of the year, Form One registered the highest number of dropouts of four girls, followed by Form Two, which recorded three girls while two dropped out in Form Three," the report says.

Mwatela and Energy Assistant Minister Charles Keter, who is also the area MP, led senior education officials on a tour of the school.

Fact-finding trip

The fact-finding mission was embarked on after The Standard exclusively exposed the high girls’ dropout at the institution due to pregnancies.

Present during the tour were Rift Valley Provincial Director of Education Beatrice Adu, Kericho District Education Officer Francis Munyeke and his Kericho West counterpart Omondi Ogutu.

Finlay’s Chief Executive Officer Simon Hutchison and senior Administration Manger Erick Korir were also present.

The report said 2006 registered the highest number of dropouts, which saw 15 girls leave school.

Thirteen girls dropped out the following year. The report added this year alone, eight girls out of those present at the beginning of the year, have dropped out.

Mwatela said there was a problem that should be addressed to create a conducive learning environment for the 263 students enrolled at the institution.

Mr Keter, in whose constituency the school falls, accused Finlay’s management and the school administration of trying to cover up problem.

The Belgut MP said the Government would take over the school, built on private land.

Poor facilities

Keter said he would facilitate a funds drive to help construct learning facilities if the company failed to act before the end of the year.

"James Finlay should decide to put up new and modern learning facilities or leave it to us. We will take over and allocate funds from the CDF kitty to give it a face lift," he added.

But Finlay’s CEO Hutchison said plans were underway to rehabilitate the facilities.

During the tour, it was resolved the multinational company provides for a bus and build dormitories.