West Pokot County Governor John Lonyangapuo has called on the government to beef up security along County borders to help learners have a peaceful environment for learning.
The County boss lamented that some schools have been having on and off learning sessions due to insecurity lapses as parents, teachers and students have been affected with the deteriorating security situation.
Speaking during the launching of County school bursary at Makutano stadium area Governor John Lonyangapuo said disarmament should be done in areas where banditry is rampant so as to reduce cattle rustling and restore peace.
He urged leaders to avoid inflammatory remarks as he urged the County security officers to note down such leaders.
He advised school heads to allow parents to pay school fees in other means if they don’t have money in form of barter trade.
“Those parents who don’t have money should be allowed to pay school fees using goats, chicken or whatever they have in their homes.In other schools it works very well. School principals should emulate that.” He said
Prof. Lonyangapuo released Sh138 million Bursary Kitty in an event attended by all secondary schools Head teachers from West Pokot County and the money adds to the Sh10, 000 disbursed earlier in the 1st batch for boarders making it Sh20, 000 in total, per student.
51 secondary schools from hardship areas with less than 100 students received Sh20, 000 for each student during the 1st batch and all day schools students received Sh 7,000 per student.
The Bursary programme has led to a record increase in school enrollment, retention and transition rates whereby in 2017, there were only 23, 000 students in secondary school but the robust ‘Bursary For All’ programme has increased secondary enrollment tremendously which rose to 70, 000.
Some of the teachers noted that the frequent attacks have affected performance in the bordering school citing that the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results have drastically dropped due to insecurity.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Chairperson in Pokot Central Sub County, Maximilla Wamatwa said many pupils and teachers along Turkwel belt and Kerio Valley had suffered due to border disputes with killings orchestrated by raiders who took advantage of the situation at the border.
Ms. Wamatwa who is also the Principal for Mtello Girls asked the government to intervene and end the conflict to enable learners to enjoy the fruits of free primary education.