Whatever is happening in our boarding secondary schools should not be taken lightly. It seems we are raising serious arsonists in our schools and something other than prayers should be done. Kids are burning down dormitories and destroying property.
On Wednesday, a story came out of Chavakali High Schools. Students woke up, slaughtered three bulls, shared the meat among themselves, and set a dormitory on fire before leaving. Some raided the kitchen, chased away the cooks, and ate everything.
Another story came out of Ituri High School in Gatundu South Constituency. The school was closed indefinitely after the students went on the rampage, dismantled that school bus and went away with tires and glasses, and overturned the wreckage before leaving.
There was another sad story of Sigalame High School. The school has gone down in flames 5 times in 3 months. Last week, 7 students were arrested at the same school with machetes and petrol, ready to do more damage. Students were sent home.
The government, through the Ministry of Education, instead of finding out the root cause, thought that the kids might be tired and, therefore, need a break. They have given them a mid-term break. This is despite that they were at home just the other day.
Some of the stakeholders in the Ministry of Education are cluelessly calling for the introduction of corporal punishment in schools. To them, the kids have become thick-headed and indisciplined and should be clobbered on the behinds to get some sense.
The problems facing our secondary schools go beyond boarding and caning. The students are trying to communicate something but we are too busy to see. Looking at it closely, some of the management in these schools run them worse than a military barrack.
Where this has reached, only dialogue can help. But are the stakeholders ready?