MPs Oppose Closure of Boarding Sections in 348 Primary Schools

MPs Oppose Closure of Boarding Sections in 348 Primary Schools.

Members of Parliament have urged the Ministry of Education to reverse its decision to shut down the boarding sections of 348 primary schools, warning that this action could significantly inconvenience parents and teachers.

The lawmakers criticized the lack of adequate time for schools to comply with ministry requirements and highlighted that some schools were never inspected by education officials before the closure orders were issued.

Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro attributed the ministry’s decision to panic following the tragic incident at Endarasha Primary School. He noted that ministry officials inspected some boarding schools and gave them three months to comply but failed to follow up on their progress.

He emphasized that the ministry should avoid adding to the burden faced by parents, citing challenges such as the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), the need for grade 9 classes, and the current economic struggles.

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Osoro questioned how parents living far from schools, such as in Nairobi with children in Nyeri, could transition to day schooling.

Impact on Pastoralist Communities

Dadaab MP Farah Maalim expressed concerns about the adverse impact of the closures on pastoralist communities. He noted that no inspections were conducted in his constituency, yet two vital boarding schools that cater to pastoralist children were shut down.

He viewed this move as an educational catastrophe that risks leaving many children, particularly from pastoralist regions, out of school.

Maalim emphasized the importance of boarding schools in such areas to ensure children remain in class during parents’ nomadic movements. He called for an immediate reversal of the closures to preserve access to education for these communities.

Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu criticized the timing of the closures, arguing that most affected schools rely on Constituency Development Fund (CDF) support.

He pointed out that the closures disrupted already approved budgets for the financial year. Mulu appealed to the ministry to suspend the decision to allow budget adjustments for improving affected schools.

Parliamentary Action on the Issue

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula directed the chairman of the Education Committee, Julius Melly, to present a detailed statement on the reasons behind the closures.

He emphasized the importance of the issue and requested that the statement include mitigation measures to address the inconvenience caused to parents and students.

The Ministry of Education ordered the immediate closure of the boarding sections in the 348 schools due to non-compliance with safety and compliance standards.

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The directive followed a nationwide assessment conducted in September and October 2024 to evaluate adherence to the Safety Standards for Basic Education Institutions.

In a circular dated November 27, 2024, Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang disclosed that the affected schools had grossly violated critical safety provisions. Consequently, regional, county, and sub-county education directors were instructed to enforce the closures immediately.

MPs Oppose Closure of Boarding Sections in 348 Primary Schools.

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