MPs Push for 7:15am School Reporting Time for Pupils

MPs Push for 7:15am School Reporting Time for Pupils

Members of Parliament are working to prevent pupils in both public and private primary schools from reporting to school before 7:15 am. They argue that such early reporting is illegal and detrimental to the well-being of young learners.

Kisii Woman Representative, Dorice Donya Aburi, has asked the Ministry of Education to address the issue of early school reporting. She criticized the practice of requiring pupils to arrive early for extra lessons, stating that it violates the law and negatively impacts students.

Ms. Aburi highlighted that school children are often required to wake up as early as 5 am to catch school buses, particularly those in urban areas.

Negative Impacts of Early School Start Times

Ms. Aburi pointed out that early start times lead to sleep deprivation among students, which in turn affects their academic performance.

Students who sleep less struggle with concentration in class and are more likely to receive lower grades.

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Additionally, she noted that insufficient sleep can foster negative behaviors such as bullying, fighting, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.

In the long term, sleep deprivation may contribute to severe mental health issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.

Legal Framework: Basic Education Regulations, 2015

Section 84 of the Basic Education Regulations, 2015, stipulates that official operating hours for all day public or private schools should be from 8 am to 3:30 pm for class activities, and from 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm for co-curricular activities as necessary.

The law further prohibits day schools from requiring students to report before 7:15 am. For boarding schools, the law outlines a 24/7 operational schedule, including self-directed activities from 5 pm to 7:30 pm, preparation time from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, and bedtime from 9:30 pm to 6 am.

Ms. Aburi emphasized that many schools across the country have insufficient school buses, forcing children to wake up in the early hours of the morning to catch the limited available buses.

This often results in students spending excessive time in transit. Additionally, she called on the Ministry of Education to eliminate weekend classes, which leave primary school pupils exhausted when they should be resting.

Parliamentary Action and Ministry Response

Although the National Assembly has begun its recess, the Education Committee is expected to meet with ministry officials to discuss strategies for ensuring schools comply with the set regulations, including the ban on weekend tuition.

The ministry is also expected to clarify its stance on the official reporting time for pupils and provide feedback to Parliament two weeks after its resumption.

Ms. Aburi stressed the urgency of resolving the issue before schools reopen, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines on when students should report to and leave school.

She noted reports of students waking up as early as 3:30 am, expressing concern over the resulting fatigue and potential mental health issues, referencing recent youth-led protests as a sign of underlying distress among students.

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The public debate surrounding early school reporting has been ongoing, especially in Nairobi, where cases of school buses hooting in estates as early as 5 am have raised concerns.

The issue is further complicated by parents who enroll their children in schools far from their homes, necessitating early departures to navigate the morning traffic.

Health Risks of Sleep Deprivation in Children

According to the American Academy for Sleep Medicine, inadequate sleep increases the risk of obesity, mental disorders, injuries, diabetes, and attention disorders in children.

The academy also noted that younger children require more sleep, and studies have shown that during middle and high school years, children’s sleep patterns are still developing, making it difficult for them to wake up early and stay alert throughout the school day.

MPs Push for 7:15am School Reporting Time for Pupils

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