Pupils of Tilak Primary School in West Pokot County have been forced to terminate classes before it rains due to poor condition of their classrooms.
The school which has a population 1247 pupils and 160 nursery school pupils is found in slums on the outskirts of Kapenguria town.
Tilak Primary which was started in 1986 has 27 streams with 611 boys and 638 girls but up to date lacks enough structures to accommodate these pupils.
The pupils are always forced to postpone learning sessions and seek shelter elsewhere once they see clouds forming on hills bordering their school.
Pupils learn in dilapidated muddy classes with holes on many classrooms and are faced with danger where by snakes hide in holes terrifying pupils and teachers during lessons.
The school which stands on four and a half acres of land lacks desks and most pupils sit on the floor while being taught.
Speaking to West media in the school, the head teacher of the school Mr. Vincent Onege said that the school is over populated and faces many challenges that range from lack of classrooms to lack of teachers.
Mr. Onege said that some of the pupils who come from the neighborhood are forced to run back home before it rains and others who walk several kilometers before arriving home are forced to seek shelter in other classes that accommodate pupils in upper classes.
“We are forced to call off classes before it rains because the classroom is filled with water and the roof leaks hence this can expose the pupils to many hazards,” he said
He stated that the school has 30 teachers of which 25 are women and 5 men who sit in one staff room and 11 temporary classrooms and 15 permanent classrooms which are all in bad conditions.
“The Nursery school section has three teachers employed by the county government . The ratio of boys to girls is 1.1. How do you expect these pupils to compete with others nationally in such conditions?” He asked.
He cited that efforts to write proposals to area politicians has bore no fruits urging the government, nongovernmental organizations and well wishers to come to their aid.
He complained that pupils are transferring to other schools because of the rapid population growth hence no capacity to accommodate them.
Mr. Onege revealed that there was scarcity of water in the school and pointed out that majority of the pupils come from Eastleigh slums of Makutano,Kapenguria town and the large catchment area of Kapkoris.
Betty Nang’iro, a teacher at the school said that pupils find it difficult to cross Koturuk River which has no bridge especially when it floods.
Pius Kiptoo a standard Eight pupil at the school, recalled an occurrence back in 2007 when he was in class one where a classroom wall fell and nearly killed students.
He said that absenteeism in the school is becoming a norm among the pupils as many fear to come to school during rainy seasons.
Kiptoo added that the classrooms are not child friendly as they lack doors and windows.