Education stakeholders in West Pokot County have urged the ministry of education to integrate democracy in learning institutions by creating a policy to allow learners choose their leaders.
The stakeholders said that democracy and civic education should be a compulsory subject in schools as a proper requisite for advancement from one level of schooling to another. They urged schools and other learning institutions to embrace democracy in choosing pupils /student leaders to help in promoting discipline and peace among learners.
They asked all schools in the region to emulate the system of electing student leaders to develop the voting system in the country. They said elections in schools will expose learners on how the system is run thus influence their parents on peaceful elections to minimize conflict thus urged Kenyans to emulate the same in the coming polls.
The stakeholders said learners should be given an opportunity to participate well in leadership in and after school. This they said will enable learners to the ambassador’s of peace and do away with corruption and bribery during elections. They said it will help learners to practice democracy when they go outside the school hence young people to become responsible voters in future.
Initially, school prefects were chosen by the school administration thus contributed to many strikes. Speaking during the elections of pupils leaders Council of Makutano Central Primary, The Director of the school Mr. Wilbert Mukhwana asked politicians to emulate pupils and students who have shown good leadership in schools and embrace peace during elections.
He urged political parties and politicians to emulate and shun tribalism. Mukhwana said that elections in schools shall help in nurturing peaceful elections, reduce bullying and promote discipline among the students. The exercise was attended by IEBC officials churches leaders and observers.
The school head teacher Mr. Albert Mayende said that elections in schools shall help in nurturing peaceful elections, reduce bullying and promote discipline among the students.
He said that pupils in the school were vetted by teachers basing on the integrity ,Discipline ,Academics ,Grooming ,Communication and leadership skills. Mayende the school decided to adopt the system to help exposed the pupils to democracy at a tender age.
He said the school is out see that in future leaders who vie for various seat can be able to sell their ideologies without bribing votes. During the exercise, the student leaders Council President Samuel Ater who garnered 325 votes and Girl President Ester Mshindi who got 368 votes.
The President elect said he will fulfill his promises and ensure all classrooms gets laptops hence pupils go for trips to get exposure. This was the second elections in the schools where pupils campaigned for two weeks hunting for votes, the second year.
