Property of unknown value was destroyed in a fire outbreak that burnt down a dormitory on Monday at Saint Patrick’s Netima boys’ school in Bumula constituency, Bungoma County.
Though no one was hurt in the incident, the students’ belongings were razed by the fire.
Speaking to the members of the press at the school, the principal Mr. Wycliffe Namianya said the fire was instigated by a power fault that was caused by mobile phone battery charging, which belonged to one of the students.
“The fire broke out at around 8. PM in the evening when the students were in class for their evening studies. The dormitory houses 120 students who are in form two and three .” said Mr. Namianya.
The school head said the institution has decided not to send the student home, given that the cause of the fire had already been established. Furthermore, he asked the parents of the students not to worry as the management plans to settle the matter.
However, he appealed to well wishers and the county government to intervene and support the affected students to continue with their learning and academic processes.
He confirmed that few things were salvaged during the inferno but majority of the students lost their belongings.
Elsewhere, in Teremi boys’ high school in Kabuchai constituency, the school Principal Mr. Bernard Wamanga urged the schools across the county to embrace the use of suggestion boxes to handle the vital issues pestering the students.
Mr. Wamanga said a clear disconnection exists between the frequency and magnitude of the fire outbreaks in schools and the level of preparedness.
According to him, some schools are comfortably sitting on time bombs should an emergency occur.
“If a fire breaks out, a lot of the effects can be minimized by having effective controls and procedures in place.” Mr. Wamanga said.
He added that besides loss of life, fire costs the country millions of shillings from damage of property, loss of business, fire compensation and insurance premium.
The school however, has managed to settle the problems including the issue of congestion.
The principal stressed the Idea of having a suggestion box, which could give individual students a chance to air out their grievances, citing that the students have raised issues several times through the suggestion box, while other issues had been addressed through various committees that were formed.
He applauded some schools that had been championing for safety among students and staff, thus sensitizing them on hazards that can be created by unsafe conditions, behavior, disasters or emergencies in schools.
He welcomed good community relations and participation when it comes to locking out evil minded people who could corrode the students’ way of thinking and psychological mindset causing them to embrace school unrest as the only way of solving issues.
His statements was supported by his deputy Mr. Winslus Wasike and the school students’ chair, both of whom demanded for the idea to be implemented in other schools.
They also urged the school heads to develop good relations to stop rivalry that may occur as a result of misunderstanding.
They lamented the sad state in boarding schools-which have long been perceived as safe havens where parents can refer their children to be molded into well educated and experienced citizens away from any external distractions in society-that are now putting students’ lives in jeopardy.
“Poor management skills are partly to blame for cases of indiscipline that are on the upsurge in secondary schools, some which have led to several deaths and injuries.” They said.