Education
Schools heads across the country have been instructions to admit in their schools’ learners affected by floods without conditions. Schools re-opened for the second term on May 13 following two postponements over floods that have ravaged the country since last month.
Speaking at Iftin primary school in Garissa when he led a tree planting exercise in schools in the area, Masini Ichwara director of planning at the state department for basic education said that the same has been communicated to all head teachers across the country.
“The schools’ heads are under instructions to accommodate all the IDP students in the nearby schools as the situation normalises. For now, let them come to school with the uniforms they have from the previous schools and start learning,” Ichwara said.
“We know parents have been affected by these floods and they might not be having resources to buy new uniform and extra cost will be a burden to them and that is why we call on the schools’ heads to bear with the situation which is temporary,” he added.
The director said the ministry of education is doing everything possible to have all children go back to their respective schools disclosing that the emergency kitty that was promised by President William Ruto will go a long way in helping all learning institutions that were affected by the floods.
Ichwara who was accompanied by senior regional education officials from North Eastern also encouraged the school heads to enter the learners into the NEMIS systems so that capitation can be channeled to every pupil that deserve.
“We know that there is a problem of birth certificates. We encourage the local administration especially the chiefs and the birth and death registration offices to closely work with schools and parents so that these kids can be given birth certificates,” he said.
“The government has committed itself that capitation is being provided to every child and therefore these children should be captured,” he noted
He also called on parents’ organisations and well-wishers to support the school feeding programme saying that the government alone cannot do it due to budget constraints. “I think as parents we also need to chip in in terms of giving food in kind for the kids to benefit. These are our children and we all have a role to play in ensuring that they continue with their studies uninterrupted,” he said
In Garissa township, Hyuga girls and Bula Argi primary schools that were the most affected by the floods remain closed since the effects were severe. The students have since been transferred to the nearby Madarasa schools as a temporary measure.
Several schools among them Young Muslim High School, Jaribu Primary, Kazuko Primary School and NEP Technical College were also hosting IDPs. They have however since been relocated to pave way for learning to continue uninterrupted.
Garissa has one the largest number of IDPs, totaling 21,770 across 12 camps. Among these are students who have been displaced from their homes.
On the issue of teachers’ shortage that has remained a point of concern from both teachers’ leadership and political leaders, Ichwara said that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) was working round the clock to address the issue calling for patience from all stake holders.
Adan Roble, North Eastern Regional director of education said that all the schools in the region are now opened and that learning was going on except two schools one in Garissa and another one in Bura sub county which are still submerged in flood waters.
He said that children from the affected schools have been relocated to nearby schools where they will be hosted before the school’s infrastructure is repaired and reconstructed. He said that in Wajir and Mandera no school has been affected by floods.
Siyat Hussein Noor head Teacher Iftin Primary acknowledged the challenge schools in the region have had as far acquiring birth certificates was concerned saying this has a direct impact on schools funding since they are not captured on NEMIS.
“As a region we are very much affected by this. Most of the schools are receiving less funds not because they don’t have the numbers in schools but because majority are not captured on NEMIS,” Noor said.
Noor who is also the Kepsha Chairman Garissa County said that going forward they will coordinate with other stakeholders including the registrar of birth and deaths, the chiefs to make sure that the children get the birth certificates.
On the issue of school feeding programme, the head Teacher noted that it remained a big challenge since it was one of the things that mainly attract students to go school, and expressed optimism that by next week things will be okay.