Over 120 pupils from Nachukut primary school don’t know their fate after the school received a notice barring them from reporting next term unless they pay for the school land. The school which was opened in 2011 acquired six acres of land, and the owner hasn’t received any payment. This has prevented the school management from setting up any permanent structures, although it was registered by the Ministry of Education in 2016.
The school has only one mud structure, for the ECDE pupils, while other pupils study under trees. Speaking at the school, the chairman of the school Isaac Ekale said they received the notice on Monday requesting them not to open the school for next term unless they pay the owner.
Ekale said they don’t know how much the owner will request since the land price has been increasing with every passing day.
He said many donors had visited the school and were willing to set up classes for the pupils but they fear setting permanent structures on the land which isn’t paid for, “This school started as an ECDE centre in 2011. The classes later advanced to class six then dropped to class two level due to lack of teachers,” he said
Acting headteacher, Jeremiah Kibet said the school is faced with many challenges, ranging from lack of water, toilets, classroom and teachers. The school has only two teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission.
Kibet said one of the major threat he faces while teaching pupils under trees is the presence of snakes, “When I’m teaching I have to carry a twig to protect the students. Snakes are common in this region so we need to be extra careful,” he said.
Christine Kiror, a parent, said the school was set up in the village since its surrounded by two rivers, and ECDE pupils can’t cross them to access nearby schools. “The nearest school is over 20 kilometres away and our children who’ve now embraced education will be forced to terminate their studies if the issue isn’t addressed before next term,” she said.
A West Pokot youth leader, Richard Todosi, said many youths didn’t attend school due to the lack of schools and asked the government to ensure the current generation doesn’t miss the opportunity to go to school, “Most of my age mates in this region didn’t attend school, keeping in mind the long distances,” he said, adding that at the moment, no pupils should be studying under trees.