Opinion: How To Curb Unrest In Schools.
How best can the government, the ministry of education and other stakeholders curb unrest in schools in the country?
As the education stakeholders look at causes of fire in Kenya’s schools, it is good to note that over the year’s Kenyan schools, especially secondary schools, have been facing numerous fires which have led to the loss of property worth millions.
The rate at which school fires are reported is a risen since 1980 causing alarm to s schools, parents, government and other stakeholders.
Mainly fire incidents are reported in schools when examinations are approaching. The big question is who is to blame?
To curb the school fires different groups have come out with the following proposals:
1. Educationist Kennedy Echesa
According to Educationist Kennedy Echesa, reintroduction of corporal punishment may be a timely solution to address school unrest in the country.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Echesa proposed that the ministry of education and the Teacher Services Commission (TSC) should restore the power of teachers to instil discipline in schools.
Defending his proposal, Echesa said that the current state of education keeps children like eggs and then release them later to society where they are exposed to lifelong corporal punishment.
He added that corporal punishment within the limits of the law would serve its purposes without causing harm to the student.
He further urged parents to take the responsibility of administering discipline to their children.
2. Students’ Proposals to the school management
In the report which was given to the task force which was given the mandate to investigate causes of schools fires, came up with the following recommendations from learners;
- The learners proposed that the school administration should embrace dialogue with them.
- The learners proposed for guidance and counselling programs to be embraced in schools.
- They also proposed the improvement of the school menu.
- Breathing space to digest the lessons.
- Lastly, the proposed for the upgrading of the school infrastructure.
3. The Students’ proposal to the society
The students proposed that society should come up with ways of expressing themselves since they are role models of the students. Students blamed society because of the violent scenes witnessed by adults and agitating for their rights.
4. Teachers
The teachers confessed to many examinations and inadequate time for other activities outside academics because of the short terms in the 2021 academic year.
Teachers associated students arson with drug abuse, inadequate properly structured communication channels, revenge by individual students and political indifference in education matters.
Teachers also said that proposals remain on paper with no implementation.
The teachers proposed that all stakeholders work together and come up with a permanent solution to curb school fires in all schools across the country.
