How Lake Turkana floods, hippos attacks exposing school-going children to risks

Samuel Lokitoi, a Grade 6 pupil makes his way to Katula Primary school that has been submerged in water. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] A lone pupil sits pensively on the sunbaked shores of Lake Turkana. Amid the heat and silence, the PP1 pupil's mind is full of uncertainty about the future, the overwhelming loss of normalcy, and the helplessness that comes with watching his school submerged in muddy waters. He wonders if the floodwaters will ever recede and if he and his peers will return to the life they once knew-playing in the school field and learning in classrooms. The bell rings, snapping him back to reality. Quickly, the pupil joins his classmates under the shade of a tree for their makeshift class. This is the situation at Katula Primary School, which has been submerged following the backflow of Lake Turkana. Headteacher, Ekai Stanislaus says the flooding began in April. "Teachers at the school play an additional role of monitoring movement of learners to prevent them from risks of drowning, and being hurt by hippos that roam at the shores of the lake," says Ekai, noting that the Lake was initially located 16 kilometres away. The school once home to 304 students has seen a 40 per cent drop in enrolment, as many families have migrated to higher grounds. The learners from different grades are now taught together. "Multi-grading is mostly applied to keep learners in school. This entails numeric teaching because the learners have no books to write in," says Ekai. Caption The headteacher suggests that the school be relocated for the safety of the learners and staff. Samuel Lokitoi, a Grade Six pupil has to navigate his way to school using a makeshift boat. "The waters from the lake have made roads impassable, and can't study in a classroom that is submerged in water. I also love football, but I can't play because the field is flooded," says Lokitoi. At the neighbourhood Lopangae Primary School, enrolment has increased in the recent past, hosting pupils from other affected schools. With 512 learners from PP1 to Grade 6, the institution has just three teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and two hired by the parents. Lessons are also taught in multi-grade classrooms. A section of classrooms that has been submerged in wtaaers at Katula primary school in Turkana. Learning has greatly been hut by floods in the county. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] "I wish we could have children in separate classes because it's difficult for them to consistently grasp knowledge in this setup. Their creativity is also impacted," says Christine Kapau, a teacher. Among the displaced students are 80 Early Childhood Development (ECD) learners from Naremiet, whose school was submerged. "We are facing severe challenges, for example, lack of classrooms and teachers," says the headteacher Peter Koko adding, "As a result, we've had to adopt multi-grade teaching, where learners from different grades are taught together." Infrastructure issues extend beyond classrooms. "We don't have enough latrines for pupils," says Koko. Christine Kapau, a teacher at Longapae Primary School. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] He notes that the school's feeding program has also been strained due to the rising enrolment. Koko also points out that many students are suffering from psychological trauma due to the impact of climate shocks, such as floods and droughts. The Ministry of Education, in partnership with organizations like Save the Children, has been providing psychological support. The school has also received disability kits, such as walking canes for visually impaired learners, hearing devices, school supplies, and reading materials. "Extreme weather events like floods and prolonged droughts have deeply affected the emotional well-being of our learners, making it difficult for them to concentrate in class," Koko says. "As an intervention, teachers have been trained on how to best support these students." A section of Katula Primary School that has been submerged in water, following backflow of Lake Turkana. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Koko is also calling for more support to improve the school's infrastructure and manpower. He notes that the current iron-walled classrooms are unsuitable for the region's hot climate. "By 10am, the classrooms become unbearably hot, and the students start sweating, making it hard to focus on learning," he explains. According to Henry Lubanga, the County's Education Officer, the region's extreme weather patterns-long dry spells followed by torrential rains-have severely impacted on education. "Turkana experiences prolonged droughts, and when the rains finally come, they cause havoc," Lubanga explains. When floods hit, residents seek safety in schools, turning these institutions into temporary shelters and interrupting learning. At least 40 primary schools were affected by the recent floods, and the harsh living conditions have forced many families to move. "At least 30 per cent of school-age children in Turkana are currently out of school due to these extreme weather conditions. Additionally, the rise in early marriages and teenage pregnancies is another consequence of the region's harsh climate, further jeopardizing the future of young learners," he says. Henry Lubanga, Education Director, Turkana county during an interview with The Standard. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] The county's shortfall of teachers stands at 689, with remote areas being the most affected. Lubanga calls for long-term interventions. Rodgers Wekesa, Education Officer at Save the Children, Lodwar office, highlights the severe impact of climate change on education in the county. The Education in Emergencies Working Group, a collaboration between the organisation and other partners, aims to ensure that "no child is left behind, especially those affected by the floods. The group works to address challenges, share solutions, and advocate for alternative access to education". "A key focus of Save the Children's work is inclusive education, ensuring that children access learning," highlights Wasike. Wasike's sentiments are echoed by Abdala Shariff, the program manager in Turkana, who further stresses that the climate crisis is fundamentally a child crisis. "Children are bearing the brunt of climate change in terms of their health, education, and overall well-being. We must ensure that they have access to quality education and the support they need to thrive despite these challenges." According to a June nutritional survey by Save the Children, one in every four children in the county is malnourished, showing signs of stunting and wasting. Abdala Shariff, Program Manager for Save the Children, Turkana, during an interview with The Standard. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Interventions being done include supply of learning materials, water storage facilities and improved sanitation, and health and nutritional outreach and livelihood resilience programmes. The outreach provides essential services such as child supplements, treatment, immunization, and health promotion messages to encourage healthier behaviours. In severe cases, children are referred to county hospitals for specialized treatment. A section of pupils at Katula primary school undergoes Multigrade learning. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Shariff adds that in response to the ongoing climate shocks, Save the Children has introduced livelihood resilience programs to empower communities in Turkana. The organisation also trains residents on business skills, provides capital and tools to start small enterprises, and offer farming training along with the necessary equipment to improve food security. "The goal is to equip communities with the capacity to withstand the repeated shocks of drought and floods, which are becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change," Shariff notes.

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