Visits reveal dire state of affairs in public schools

The teachers strike that has paralysed learning in primary and secondary schools continued Thursday across the country.

Thursday, The Standard established that most learners in public schools were on their own as the teachers went on with their work boycott. A spot check by The Standard revealed that most exam candidates were on their own.

However, in some schools teachers were at hand to help the students.

In Mombasa, teachers, especially in best performing schools in the town, were in class. However, others, fearing reprisals from their striking colleagues, were conducting classes in some designated places in the town.

The principal of one of the schools, said teachers were giving students’ assignments before leaving school.

At Shimo La Tewa National School, the board of management has hired 12 teachers to help Form Four students prepare for KCSE.

“The school has also reserved a class for Form One and Two students willing to stay and have been assigned a teacher who will assist them with their learning,” said School Chief Principal Joseph Mwadime.

At Kenyatta High School Mwatate, only 250 students out of 800 were in school, according to Severin Tolle, the principal.

In Kakamega and Bungoma counties, most schools are still deserted. Learning has been paralysed at Kabula Primary, Muslim Primary and Secondary in Bungoma County, just as in Amalemba Primary, Maraba Primary and Shikoti Mixed Secondary schools in Kakamega.

At Kakamega Primary, five parents have volunteered to teach Standard Eight pupils.

Kakamega Primary chairman Jeremiah Ayayo said the parents were touched by the plight of the children who are about to sit their final examinations in November.

In Nakuru, we found students in top performing public schools revising on their own in groups.

At Nakuru Boys High School, a national school, students were revising on their own with some guidance from teachers employed by the BOG.

According to the Principal Paul Kibet, the heads of various departments are also in school to ensure safety of the students.

“There are BOG teachers giving some guidance to students and we also have teachers in charge of various departments who are required by education regulation to be at school despite any industrial action,” said Mr Kibet.

Trainee teachers

In the neighbouring Nakuru Girls, class prefects and monitors have taken charge of teaching their colleagues.

Students at Bahati Girls, the best county school in 2014 KCSE, were revising on their own while trainee teachers were giving them guidance.

Njoro Boys, a county school, was closed in the first week of the strike due to fear of safety of students.

At Menengai Day and Boarding Secondary only Form Four students are in the school. The students were revising on their own, just as those in Langa Langa and Afraha High.

In Kericho County, we found KCSE candidates discussing in groups. At Kericho Day  Secondary School, class representative Erick Mogaka said they have formed study groups comprising eight students.

Elsewhere in central Kenya, day primary schools have been worst hit by the strike and parents have withdrawn their children from the institutions.

In a few schools, some KCPE candidates were found revising on their own.

In one Nyeri secondary school, teachers could be seen in classes attending to students.

The school’s principal confirmed that all students were in school but was reluctant to state if normal classes had resumed.

In Nyeri High School, students were mourning the loss of one of their teachers.

At Rware Mixed Secondary School, the administration has allowed willing students to study on their own.

At Mathari Primary, only Standard Eight and pre-school pupils were in school. The school has been closed for the rest of the pupils.

At Gatuma-Ini primary in Thika, which has more than 1,000 pupils, there was little activity as majority of the pupils are at home.

In the nearby St Patrick’s Primary School, the situation was no different and only a handful pupils were seen idling and playing in the compound.

“A fast solution to the strike is needed. The pupils and students mostly the candidates for KCPE and KCSE are suffering,” said the head teacher.

At Chania Boys and Chania Girls candidates were revising on their own. Parents who spoke to The Standard said they were angry with the Government for failing to end the strike.

In Embu town, most county primary and secondary schools were closed.

And in Kisumu, learning in some schools was going on albeit covertly. In these schools, guards were under strict instruction not to allow in visitors.

“The media is not allowed in only under the directive of the principal who is not in now, but if you need to see any other person, you can call them so that they come out,” said one guard.

Learning was also paralysed in West Pokot and cattle were seen grazing in some school compounds.