15,000 Kenyan Students Out of School Due to April-May Floods

15,000 Kenyan Students Out of School Due to April-May Floods

A recent survey conducted in June 2024 highlights the devastating impact of the floods on Kenya’s education sector, revealing that 15,000 students missed school due to the catastrophic flooding.

The rapid survey aimed to assess the 2024 floods’ effects on schools across the nation, covering 60 schools in nine counties. This assessment exposed a dire situation for education in the aftermath of the floods.

The Elimu Bora Working Group discovered significant damage to educational infrastructure, with over 62 primary schools submerged, putting 15,000 students at risk of missing school. The Tana River region reported 34 cases of cholera and damage to over 20,000 toilets, exacerbating health risks.

The surveyed schools reported a notable decline in student enrollment. Before the floods, 23,530 students were enrolled, which decreased to 21,453—a 9% reduction attributed to the flooding.

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Female students experienced a 10% decrease in return rates, while 11% of students with special needs, representing 40 out of 337, had not yet returned to school. The survey noted that schools saw a significant drop in the number of students, particularly affecting girls and those with special needs.

Infrastructure and Facilities

The floods caused widespread infrastructure damage, leaving many schools with non-functional facilities. Some buildings remained unsafe but were still used due to a lack of alternatives.

Most schools were unprepared for teaching and learning when they reopened in May 2024. Previously, some schools served as IDP camps, and displaced individuals were relocated to temporary structures on higher ground once schools reopened.

Several schools reported collapsed latrines and damaged water sources, posing severe health risks to students and staff. There was an absence of mental health and psychosocial support for affected students, teachers, and staff.

Additionally, 34 cases of cholera were reported along the Tana River, raising concerns about potential outbreaks as schools resumed.

The survey highlighted a glaring absence of well-structured disaster response and coordination frameworks across all assessed sub-counties. The lack of proper disaster response plans hindered effective crisis management and delayed responses during emergencies.

Existing avenues for rapid response were found inadequate or compromised, failing to mitigate disasters effectively. The absence of structured frameworks also impeded accurate and timely data collection at the school, local, and sub-county levels.

Government and Community Support

Alarmingly, less than 20% of schools surveyed received financial or material assistance for reconstruction or repairs from the government. Many students returned to school weeks late due to impassable roads, causing them to fall behind in their studies.

Schools, teachers, non-teaching staff, students, and communities were largely unprepared for reopening and the continuation of learning due to widespread destruction and lack of repairs in essential facilities.

The survey recommended the establishment of a structured school infrastructure development, improvement, and maintenance program.

It also proposed implementing a collaborative, multi-stakeholder recovery approach after disasters, incorporating flood mitigation measures into physical planning systems.

Additionally, ongoing training and capacity development programs focused on disaster preparedness, prevention, response, and mitigation were advised.

Wider Impact of the Floods

The April-May 2024 floods had a catastrophic impact on Kenya, leaving hundreds dead, residents displaced, and extensive damage to schools, homes, roads, and bridges.

As of May 10, 2024, the National Disaster Operations Centre reported 267 fatalities, 188 injuries, and 75 people missing.

An estimated 281,835 people (56,367 families) were displaced, with nearly 380,573 individuals (76,114 families) affected by persistent heavy rains and flooding.

The floods resulted in the loss of over 9,973 livestock, damage to 41,562 acres of cropland, and destruction of 61 roads.

Additionally, 886 businesses, 1,967 schools, 1,465 water sources, and 62 health facilities were damaged in 11 of the 42 affected counties. The Kenya government announced that Sh1 billion (US$7.5 million) was needed to rehabilitate flood-affected schools.

Urban and Informal Settlement Impact

Several informal settlements in urban areas suffered significant damage. For instance, in Nairobi, more than 7,000 people were displaced in the Mathare informal settlement alone.

The floods’ impact extended beyond rural areas, affecting urban communities and highlighting the need for comprehensive disaster preparedness and response strategies.

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The extensive damage to over 20,000 toilet blocks, either sunk or severely damaged by the floodwaters, posed serious health risks to over 1.5 million schoolchildren nationwide. The survey underscored the urgency for proper drainage systems and elevated construction to mitigate future flood risks.

15,000 Kenyan Students Out of School Due to April-May Floods

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