Crackdown on rogue boarding schools begins

Parents arrive at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County where a fire tragedy left 21 learners dead. [Kibata Kihuu, Standard]

The Ministry of Education now seeks to flex its muscles on rogue boarding schools that have failed to comply with regulations set to ensure learner's safety.

This is after the Ministry ordered all boarding schools in the country to undergo a mandatory inspection day after the fatal fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County that claimed the lives of 21 students.

The inspection will assess compliance with safety standards amid concerns over laxity by the government in enforcing school safety guidelines in schools.

The order further shines the spotlight on the quality assurance department's effectiveness in the execution of its mandate which includes ensuring compliance to school operation guidelines. 

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba in a statement said the inspections, which began this week, will cover both primary and secondary schools across the country.

The CS warned that firm action will be taken against Ministry of Education officials, school administrators and managers found to have flouted the guidelines stipulated in the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya.

“The recent incident has underscored the need for the government and school managers to firmly enforce school safety guidelines at all times, we must avoid a recurrence of similar cases,” Migos said in a press release.

Officials from the Ministries of Education, Interior and National Administration, Health, and Public Works, along with representatives from County Governments and the Kenya Red Cross, will participate in the assessments.

The government is also using this opportunity to investigate the recent spate of school fires and identify underlying causes.

 “Firm and decisive action will be taken against Ministry of Education officials, school administrators and managers found to have flouted the guidelines,” Ogamba warned.

While the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya has been in place for several years, the government has acknowledged that enforcement has been inconsistent. 

While most schools have complied with the Safety Standards Manual, Ogamba acknowledged that a few have failed to meet the requirements, leading to tragic accidents.

“These regrettable incidents have cost innocent lives, caused injuries, and led to the destruction of property," he said.

One of the most devastating incidents occurred at Hillside  Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, where a dormitory fire claimed the lives of 21 students.

The government said 19 bodies were found in the dormitory, while two more boys succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment in the hospital.

The identities of the 19 students who perished in the fire remain unknown, and DNA tests are currently underway to identify them.

Other fire incidents have been reported at Isiolo Boys High School and Isiolo Girls High School, though no casualties occurred in these cases. Fires were also reported at Bukhalalire Secondary School in Busia County and Ortum Boys High School in West Pokot County.

As the Ministry continues its inspections, schools have been urged to intensify preparations for the upcoming national exams, including the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment, Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment, and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, which are scheduled for the end of the third term.

“We want to reassure the country that the Ministry will continue supporting schools to remain safe and conducive environments for quality learning,” Ogamba said.