By OSINDE OBARE
KENYA: Trans-Nzoia County Director of Education Joseph Wamocho has directed schools to submit regular reports on attendance of pupils to stamp out rampant absenteeism occasioned by child labour.
Mr Wamocho ordered heads to make monthly returns on pupil attendance as a measure to detect children who skip learning to engage in cheap labour.
The official blamed declining education standards in the county on rampant child labour and parental negligence, adding that the new measures will help tame absenteeism. “Child labour has become a major obstacle to education performance in the county.
Many children drop out of schools to get hired on farms. We want this menace to stop,” he said. Wamocho said performance in last year’s KCPE is discouraging and warned teachers against condoning practices hindering the education standards. The county was ranked 24 countrywide.
He said a number of school children in the county abscond lessons to go and weed and harvest on maize farms. “Absenteeism is rampant during weeding and harvest seasons and this affects performance. We need to tackle this menace to improve the education standards,” he added.
Wamocho issued a stern warning to people who employ school going children to work on their farms, adding that they risk being prosecuted.
“I’m warning those hiring school children to work on their farms. They will face law and we appeal to the provincial administration to help us arrest the vice,” he added.
The official said he plans to call for stakeholders meeting to discuss the falling trend of boy enrolment.
Women Rep Janet Nangabo urged the county leadership to stem child labour in the area.
