Ministry pushes to keep children in school

Narok county commissioner Isaac Masinde said the whereabouts of 1,200 learners are not known, adding that the county secondary school admission stands at 93 per cent.

"Another seven per cent have not reported despite the government announcing free day secondary education," Masinde said.

However, he did not provide a breakdown of the number of girls and boys on the list of missing students.

Masinde blamed the low primary to secondary school transition on a lack of information that the government is offering free secondary education in day schools.

To achieve the 100 per cent transition, the county commissioner said educationists, political leaders and the clergy must cooperate.

"We want to inform parents that secondary education is free and textbooks are also free. All they need to buy his school uniform and provide lunch money," he said.

On Junior Secondary, Masinde said the government would work with parents, guardians and leaders to achieve a 100 per cent transition.

"It is our responsibility as parents and leaders to ensure every candidate who sat the assessment at grade six transits to grade seven," Masinde said.

In Kilifi, the national transition rate stood at 95 per cent. Kwale and Kilifi had 30 per cent of children who were still at home as of last week.

Led by Ganda MCA Oscar Wanje, a group of leaders in Kilifi said many parents have neglected their children and are interfering with the transition rate propagated by the government.

Wanje cautioned parents in his ward that he would not rescue them if arrested for failing to take their children to school.

"There is a circular from the government that all children should go to school whether they have no school fees or uniform. Let all children with school fee problems be brought to my office for assistance," he said.

Nominated MCA Betty Kache said the government should arrest parents as an example to those who refuse to take their children to school.

"It will be a lesson to others if the police arrest two or three parents for not taking their children to school," she said.

Education CS Ezekiel Machogu said Kilifi and Kwale counties are lagging in children's transition from primary to secondary school and that the ministry officials will team up with counterparts from the Interior ministry to investigate.