The Ministry of Education is currently undertaking training for education field officers, including County and Sub-County directors, on safety measures that schools must employ to ensure students do not go on strike or burn down property.
The training is being spearheaded by Education Director General Elyas Abdi alongside quality assurance director and Mary Gaturu.
During an inspection tour of the construction of classrooms in preparation of CBC learners in Junior High School at Nyawara Girls Highschool in Siaya County, Gaturu recommended transfer of errant students to correctional centres and ensure immediate closure of the institutions.
“In the event that the head teacher notices any signs among students, which, in his or opinion, may result in the disruption of general activities at the institutions, he or she shall close the institution and notify the county director of education within four hours,” she said.
The guidelines direct that the loss assessed will be borne to bears the highest responsibility for the mass indiscipline.
“If the act of indiscipline is likely to threaten the safety of the other learners in the institution, the head of the institution shall issue the learner with a suspension letter addressed to the parent or guardian indicating the nature of the indiscipline and specifying the date the learner accompanied by the guardian is required to appear before the board of management of the institutions,” she said.
Last term, more than 40 schools burnt down by students demanding to go home on mid-term break.
Parents were asked to pay hefty amounts to help the schools to rebuild the destroyed property.
The training began last week and is set to end next week.
Boards of management are also required to declare the institution closed and learning suspended for a period not extending two weeks.
A report should also be submitted to the county education board within two days of closure of the schools.
In case of damage or destruction of property, the management of the institution will be required to invite a registered loss assessor following the relevant laws, to determine the value of the loss.
