Boy child education seems to be facing serious challenges as many students and pupils are significantly dropping out of school, the number is alarming and calls from leaders and stakeholders of looking into it seriously being made.
Addressing parents and teachers at Kuywa Friends Secondary school in Sitikho ward during the disbursement of cheques meant for bursaries of the county government of Bungoma, principals led by Kuywa Secondary school principal Mr. Isaac Musani said the rate at which male students are dropping out of school should not be ignored as many have rooted in engaging in boda boda sector and others have become cane caters for various sugarcane mills.
Musani said in many schools girls are doing well in terms of academic since there’s little school absenteeism as compared to boys who have lagged behind and those who manage to come to school don’t give much attention to education because of involving themselves in Disco matanga and drug abuse saying the most affected are day schools and wondered the whereabouts of the source of bhang.
“Day schools are going through hard times especially in keeping boys in class as many are under the influence of drug abuse and can’t concentrate in class and therefore all stakeholders should stand up and find a quick solution otherwise the boy child is in danger unless quick measures are put in place,” said Mr. Musani.
His sentiments were echoed by his counterpart, the principal of Khalumuli Secondary school who said many day schools are experiencing male students absenteeism as compared to girls and that’s why many boys are not doing well and it’s time he said they have to sit together as leaders and find a solution for the sickening problem.
The concerns were also raised by two assistant chiefs, Mr. John Murutu of Sitikho and his colleague Amos Matumbei of Khalumuli sub location who said for the past one week they have been on a mission of visiting homes and taking pupils and students who were at home to school.
However, they have blamed parents for failing in their responsibility and promised to take punitive measures to those who will be found with their school going children at home.
“We are going to be very serious on this issue of boy child and parents must step up and be more responsible and if we will get any parent with his child who should be in school at home we will take serious measures against him or her, so let’s join hands and help our boys to get equal education just like we have given to our girls,” they said
Sitikho ward Member of County Assembly Grace Sundukwa who led the disbursement of cheques to various schools to a tune of shs 4 million said the rate of boy child drop out is quite alarming and something must be done and appealed to parents to give equal treatment to all children saying girl child has been favored most leaving the boy child which is quite unfortunate.
“We are going to have bad boys in the village if we don’t wake up and address the issue significantly because many boys are engaging in boda boda business while our girls are studying so who will marry them if our boys are not being keen in education because you don’t expect our girls who are highly learned to marry school dropouts so let’s join hands and find a lasting solution,” said Ms Sundukwa.
To curb this the MCA affirmed that she is going to have several meetings with parents in all schools in the ward and chat the way forward promising to make sure that she gives a broader eye on boy child.
In the cheques disbursement exercise, many students benefited from the kitty and those who applied and did not manage were promised to be patient and will be prioritized in September but also appealed to parents to continue paying fees for their children as the County will only boost them.
