KENYA: There is more than meets the eye in the burning of schools in Kenya
The recent wave of school unrest that has seen the burning of over 100 schools and destruction of properties are schemed acts by well-organized cartels to destabilize and disrupt learning in secondary schools across the Country, principals of Catholic Sponsored schools have said.
While sharing experiences during the annual Conference for Principals of Catholic Sponsored schools at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) Nairobi, the school’s heads noted that after thorough investigations, some schools were burnt by radicalized vulnerable children who were funded by individuals to torch school dormitories. Non-teaching staff members were also said to be colluding with the students to frustrate the school principals while other strikes were due to fear of taking exams among other reasons beyond the school authority’s control.
Addressing the over 1000 school heads and education secretaries, the Bishop of Kitui Rt. Rev. Anthony Muheria challenged the Secondary School Principals to up their skills in order to understand better what is going on in the world of the young people so as to curb the rising cases of arson attacks and strikes perpetuated by students.
Bishop Muheria called on the principals to understand the underlying problems that the students face and influence the students’ actions and thoughts by instilling values in their hearts, encourage the students to participate in community service, give inspirational talks, sell good morals, and win the teachers into mentorship and to help the young people reject drugs.
He also told the teachers to analyse the values that the children are to uphold adding that the society and environment must also contribute toward the character formation of the youth.
The conference whose theme is “Catholic schools – a place to Encounter Jesus Christ, the compassionate teacher” aimed at covering issues such as integration of gospel values in education, teacher management, Catholic Identity, examination integrity and the ongoing education reforms.
The three-day conference which was held from 16th to 18th, August, 2016 was being hosted by The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Commission for Education and Religious Education. It was in line with the Jubilee year of Mercy being marked by the universal church.
By Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications KCCB
