Parents to Pay for Burned School Property as Incidences Continue to Grow

On Sunday night, a total of seven secondary schools went up in flames with one burning on Monday morning.

This brought the number of schools that have been burned down by students to more than 15 as statistics continue to add up.

More than 40 students were presented in court on Monday and charged with arson. All of them were released on bail as they await the matter to be solved out of court.

The Ministry of Education through the Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i has maintained that the government is not going to help in the repairing of the destroyed buildings in any way.

“These ones are not juveniles anymore but criminals. They should be in jail,” said the tough talking Dr Matiang’i.

The tough talk of the Cabinet Secretary, however, appears not to be yielding no fruits but more increasing cases of burning schools.

Secondary schools heads are planning an urgent meeting so as to discuss the issue which seems to be getting out of hand.

Read: Securing Your Child’s Future by Guaranteeing their Education

Most quarters are now calling for the reintroduction of corporal punishment which was done away with in schools.

It is currently a criminal offense for a teacher to be seen punishing a student and this, according to some stakeholders is what has contributed to the dwindling discipline among the students.

“Canning of students must be reintroduced if we want to instill sanity among these students. Even the bible in the book of Proverbs is very clear about the cane. There is an old saying that goes, spare the rod and you spoil the child. We have spared the rod far too long and now we are busy breeding criminals,” said Mr. Tomkim Baraza Mzalendo, a teacher at Alliance Boys High School.

Politicians have also weighed into the matter with some like the Deputy President William Ruto calling on the church to pray for the schools. He called on church leaders to be on the forefront in directing the students towards the right path.

Some religious leaders have, however, blamed the lack of role models in the country as the main reasons why students are misbehaving.

“Children often emulate what they see. Our politicians are always on the streets with their supporters burning tires ate destroying property. How can we expect something different from the students?” Said Pastor David Mulongo on PEFA church at Lukhuna, Tongaren Constituency in Bungoma County.

Other academicians have blamed the government for not handling the financial issues facing the teachers.

“Whenever teachers are not paid, they often go on the streets. Students too emulate from them,” said Mr. Joseph Tekei, a lecturer in one of the local universities in Kenya.

What is the cause of the recent wave of school burning in the country? Is the Ministry of Education aware of what the real problem is?