Amidst the ongoing schools unrest and arson cases, stakeholders in the education sector have ruled out the closure of schools and insisted that second term ends as earlier stipulated. The statement was issued after a meeting between Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, clergymen, NCIC, school principals among other figures in the education sector. This comes after renewed suggestions that schools should be closed in order to curb the ongoing schools unrest in the country. Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) had issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, urging him to accept the alternative solution, which is closing down the schools to avoid more arson cases and further loss of property. A nationwide strike notice has been issued by the union if schools are not closed within the 7 days.
This comes after renewed suggestions that schools should be closed in order to curb the ongoing schools unrest in the country. Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) had issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, urging him to accept the alternative solution, which is closing down the schools to avoid more arson cases and further loss of property. A nationwide strike notice has been issued by the union if schools are not closed within the 7 days.
The schools closure idea was supported by the opposition party leaders, who said the move will help avoid more destruction of property. Led by CORD principal Moses Wetangula, they said the students’ lives will be at risk if schools are not closed.
The move by the Cabinet Secretary and other stakeholders to rule out closing of schools was earlier highlighted by KSSHA chairman Mr. John Awiti, who insisted closing schools at this point in time will not help solve the crisis, “It’s not logical to close schools now, with only two weeks remaining to reach end of term,” he said. The Anglican church bishop Jackson Ole Sapit who attended the meeting said that the current ongoing unrest will negatively affect the education standards in the country.
At least 100 schools have been affected by the ongoing arson cases in the country so far, and Kenyans have urged the government to find a lasting solution to the problem that is drawing more and more attention with each passing day, as the second term nears its conclusion.