Teachers want safety rules implemented to curb tragedies
Teachers unions’ officials have petitioned the Ministry of Education to fast-track implementation of school safety policies to help mitigate tragedies.
Education stakeholders, who spoke to the Scholar , said failure by the ministry to fully implement the safety regulations was to blame for tragedies in institutions.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Kisumu county branch chairman Joshua Ogalo expressed concerns that the level of safety in most schools is still worrying and urged the government to act fast in remedying the situation.
Ogalo said inadequate infrastructure in the public schools including classrooms is also a contributor to some of the tragedies encountered in the learning institutions.
“Only 10 per cent of public schools in the country are safe for learning. Meaning 90 per cent of the institutions have poor infrastructure, which calls for immediate interventions by stakeholders,” said Ogalo.
The Knut official recommends that the State increase development capitation for learners to facilitate the expansion of existing education facilities and implementation of the regulations.
“Financial constraints have made it difficult for schools to put up proper safety mechanisms,” he said.
Ogalo regretted that boarding facilities in several schools lack capacity to handle emergency cases when they occur leading to eventualities and loss of lives.
“The ministry should act immediately in improving the safety environment in schools by allocating adequate resources,” he added.
Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers Association (KEPSHA) Nyanza region chairman Caleb Oduyu asked the ministry to come up with a national guideline on ensuring the safety measures are implemented to prevent disasters.
Oduyu also called on the government to increase capitation for schools to support development of quality infrastructure.
“The guidelines should have a uniform standard for buildings in the public schools and the structures should not have more than three- stories,” he said.
He said the health component in the safety measures has been neglected, as most schools don’t have proper sanitation facilities such as toilets.
Last week, a pit latrine cover at Moi’s Bridge Baptist Bible Mission and Nursery School in Uasin Gishu county collapsed, injuring 12 nursery school pupils.
A few weeks ago, a stampede at Kakamega Primary School left 14 pupils dead and scores injured.
