Schools closed over terror

Several schools in Garissa County were yesterday closed for lack of teachers following mass transfers over insecurity.

Addressing journalists at Garissa primary school after a crisis meeting, board members from various institutions in the county said residents are entitled to a better education like any other in the country.

They said the government ought to act tough on terror.

"We have decided to close the schools and ask parents to withdraw their children until the government puts its house in order,” said Hassan Sheikh Ali, who spoke on behalf of the boards

“We want to have a united Kenya. Transferring teachers is creating divisions within this country because they are playing to the hands of the terrorists,” he added.

The remarks come just a day after the Teachers Services Commission (TSC) granted transfers to teachers who fled from their schools following attacks at Kamuthey Primary School where three of their colleagues were killed by Al Shabaab militants.

Non-locals

The militants have been targeting non-locals working in the region and also killed four children from Saretho primary.

Yesterday, most schools, some within Garissa township, had few teachers. For instance, at Garissa High School, more than 30 teachers have left.

Garissa County Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary Mr Abdirizack Hussein said three quarters of teachers have left in the county.

He accused TSC of granting the transfers unilaterally and demanded that the decision be immediately revoked.

“Idle children can be enticed by extremist groups. We demand revocation of transfers of teachers,” he said.

Private schools declared that the decision made by boards of management of public schools to close their schools will not affect them.