Danger lurks as manual on school safety still ignored

By Standard Team

In an apparent response to tragedies that hit schools in the last decade, the Ministry of Education introduced a safety standards manual two years ago.

But regrettably, most schools have not complied with the guidelines.

The manual outlines measures schools should take in the event of a fire outbreak within a school environment.

Chapter six of the manual has safety standards and guidelines on how a dormitory should be maintained.

The required space between beds should be at least 1.2 meters while the corridor or pathway not less than two meters.

Sharing beds is prohibited and schools were strictly told to admit students based on the available bed space.

But this is hardly the case. In the recent Endarasha Boys Secondary School fire, it was evident the dormitory had accommodated beyond its capacity.

According to a Ministry of Public Works Official involved in the ongoing investigation, the dormitory had the capacity to accommodate 120 but in excess of 180 students.

School managements and parents in the North Rift admit learning institutions were still sitting on a time bomb.

"Although there have been no emergencies or fire outbreaks here, no measures have been taken to prevent possible crises in schools," said Mr Sylvester Talam, the Nandi North Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary.

Talam said the Government should consider hiring experts to give training on safety in learning institutions.

Some school, Talam said, were in highland areas prone to lightening, adding there was need to install lighting arrestors to prevent deaths.

Fire equipment

This is also the case in Nyanza. Kisumu Girls’ principal Mary Akunja admits the school has few fire extinguishers.

"We have a few extinguishers. What we have is not enough and in some schools, they do not have any at all. The Government should provide funds to schools to purchase this equipment," says Mrs Akunja, whose school has 1,045 students.

She says even after buying some of the equipment, it was expensive to hire experts to train students and staff on using them.

Mr John Ogeke, the principal of Wayaga Secondary School doubts the institution’s ability to handle fires.

"Schools like this are still poor and we cannot even afford fire extinguishers. It is a major challenge," Ogeke says.

Homa Bay District Education Officer Margaret Lesuuda says the situation is dire, and needs Government attention. Mrs Lesuuda says schools find it expensive to purchase gear to fight fires.

"Some have the extinguishers but they cannot maintain them. This is why poor schools rely on prefects and guards, leading to lapses," she argues.

Homa Bay County Red Cross Co-ordinator John Roche says some schools have formed clubs to sensitise students on safety procedures.

First aid skills

The students have also been equipped with First Aid skills, he says. The principal of St Patrick’s Netima Secondary School in Kimilili, Dishon Shihundu, admits there are no fire assemblies at his institution.

He claims the Ministry of Public Works is yet to respond to a request to train his students on emergencies such as fire.

According to the Ministry of Education manual produced in conjunction with Church World Service, all doorways should be wide enough, at least five feet wide and should open outwards.

They must not, at any time, be locked from outside when learners are inside. Each dormitory should have a door at each end as well as an additional emergency exit at the middle.

Teachers are under instructions to ensure dormitories are locked whenever students are in class to keep away intruders.

In addition, dormitory windows must be without grills and easy to open upwards.

But the most neglected aspect is the fact that fire-extinguishing equipment should be functioning and placed at each exit, with alarms fitted at accessible points.

Reports By Sam Otieno, Titus Too, Nicholas Anyuor and Joel Okwayo.