Rains wreck havoc on schools a head of reopening

Marooned classrooms at Rwang'ondu Primary School in Kagio, Mwea West. [File, Standard] Some schools may remain closed next week as others reopen for the second term. A spot check by The Standard reveals that a number of schools have been destroyed by heavy rains that have pounded the country in the past few days. However, the Education PS Belio Kipsang on Thursday maintained that school reopening dates will remain as scheduled. "I know this year we have been blessed with quite some rain and I know the President directed a multi-agency team to be able to deal with the challenges that have come with the rains," Dr Kipsang said. He said that the Ministry will make the right decision for the children. "I can assure all of us that as already directed by the President we are all prepared and looking forward to our children going to school next week," the PS said. Kipsang spoke as a circular was released by the Director General, Ministry of Education Dr Elyas Abdi, instructing regional directors to collect data on the status of schools following the heavy rains. "Several parts of the country are reported to be experiencing heavy rains and flooding. As a result, there is a need to establish the effects of the long rains on the Basic Education institutions in the country," Dr Abdi said. The DG further said the feedback will inform a decision by the ministry ahead of schools reopening. "The purpose of this circular is to request you to coordinate the submission of the data from your region using the attached template. You should work with the Board of Management and other Stakeholders and ensure that all basic institutions in your regions open for the second term of 2024," Dr Abdi said. Speaking yesterday Kipsang said: "As a ministry, we shall be part of the multi-agency team so that we adequately walk with our colleagues to ensure that children will be safe when we go back to school next week." Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association Lucy Njeri appealed to the government to consider families affected by the raging floods. "Actually, some students have no homes after floods, meaning no books, no uniform. Some roads are broken, am almost sure same infrastructure like toilets has sunk, there is need for directives on the opening day just in case this continues next week," Njeri said. When the Standard visited several schools a number of them were damaged by the floods. At Kariobangi South Primary School, all lower primary school classes are submerged in raw sewage. The chairman of the Parents Association Titus Mwanzia vowed to ensure no student reports back to school in such an environment. "How do you expect a normal parent to send his or her child to come in such an environment? This will be like sending her to come and die here. We will not allow that to happen to our children, never," said Mwanzia. He blamed the local administration for diverting the water and sewerage drainage through the school which has affected more than 1,800 pupils. "Whenever it rains, teachers have to carry the children to class as well as to toilets since the sewage burst and spills into classrooms. We have to be content with the situation for the last two years," Mwanzia stated. However, the situation on the ground is dire with sanitation thrown through the window. According to Ayub Simba, parents appealed to the government to extend the opening date to contain the damage in schools. "Some of the parents across the country have been displaced while some schools have been marooned by floods. Learning will not take place even if the government insists," he said. Simba noted the situation at the school has impacted negatively to the performance of learners. "Every time we have rains, half of the population doesn't report to school, affecting our performance. It is a health risk," he said. "All the raw sewage from the estate and water from Mutarakwa Road finds their way to the school. This what our students live with."

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