21 January 2008
Nairobi — Learning in many schools has not resumed countrywide for the second week since schools reopened for the new school year.
Teachers have raised concerns over their security while parents have refused to let their children attend school due to the poll-related violence ad insecurity.
In the larger Trans Nzoia District, 12 primary schools and two secondary schools have not reopened.
An estimated 5,000 children in the area are likely to drop out of school.
Most institutions are hosting internally displaced persons while others remained closed due to security fears.
Noigum primary school in Cherangany constituency is sheltering about 20,000 displaced people from Geta farm on the Kitale East-Marakwet border.
Displaced people
Other schools yet to reopen are being used as camps for displaced people. It will take more than a month before these schools open as the Government is yet to ferry the displaced back to their homes.
Over 300 pupils of the school were forced to return homes after they were unable to access the school.
Local District Commissioners Mr Seif Matata and Mr Francis Mutie said those displaced people will be relocated to allow learning take place.
Area district education officer Mr Abdi Gedo said there were no immediate plans to open schools sheltering displaced people. "We are trying to see how the affected schools could reopen, but we have to wait until the Government relocates the victims," Mr Gedo said.
Kitale Catholic Church Justice and Peace Commission director Mr Leonard Barasa has warned that the girl-child education could be adversely affected.
In Taita District, at least 20 teachers have not yet reported back to work.
Likewise most secondary schools in the area have recorded a low turnout as some parents have advised their children not to go to school until the situation improves. But a staffing officer at the district education office, Mr Martin Bunde, asked students to report back to school saying security in the area was adequate.
Mr Bunde said some teachers are taking advantage of the chaos in other parts of the country to seek transfers.
Resume duty
Taita District was not affected much by the post-election skirmishes. But tension is high in Mwatate and Voi following the demonstrations that were dispersed by police on Thursday and Friday.
Some schools in Migori and Rongo Districts may not open soon as teachers have been threatened with lynching if they resume duty.
The area Knut executive secretary Charles Katege said some parents had also refused to release their children. He said both the primary and secondary schools might not open unless the Government provided the teachers with security both at home and in school.
Displaced students
Education officers in Central province are planning how hundreds of displaced students will be accommodated.
Provincial director of education Kenneth Misoi, however, assured headteachers that the Government would cater for the cost of these students.
By Friday last week, his office had names of 84 students who would be posted to various schools within the region.
Mr Misoi said district education officers were also redeploying displaced pupils to other schools in the province.
Primary schools in Nyeri District are feeling the impact of the violence due to an influx of pupils from the affected regions.
Reported by George Omonso, Jonathan Manyindo, Elisha Otieno and Muchiri Gitonga
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