TSC demands harsher penalties, and there is a crackdown on school arsonists.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has asked for harsher steps to stop the escalating wave of school fires that continue to impede learning, and as a result, school heads across the nation are facing unprecedented pressure.
The TSC has advocated for harsh penalties, including potential jail terms, for anyone who commit acts of arson.
This position is a clear reaction to the concerning quantity of fires that have spread throughout numerous establishments in the crucial third term.
The TSC’s stance has been clear-cut: it wants school administrators to act right once and work with police authorities to look into the fire events. In a recent circular, TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia emphasized how important student safety is.
“Engage law enforcement agencies in investigating cases of arson and indiscipline in schools with a view to recommending administrative and legal action to the perpetrators,” she said.
This directive follows several schools’ persistent infractions of safety regulations. It has been discovered that numerous school administrators have neglected to implement the guidelines provided in the Safety Standards Manual for Schools.
The handbook is essential for upholding safety and order, but because it has been applied haphazardly, many institutions are now open to disruption. Macharia has issued a warning, stating that those who disobey will face severe disciplinary action.
Following a recent inspection, it was discovered that numerous safety rules were being broken, resulting in both property damage and the terrible death of people.
Due to the fires, there have been major delays to the academic calendar for pupils preparing for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
Fears of more violence have caused the temporary closure of more than 100 schools.
Calls for action at several levels of government have been sparked by the situation. Kaiti MP Joshua Kimilu has encouraged the government to take into consideration instituting a mid-term break.
His electorate in Makueni County has been particularly badly impacted, with 25 reported incidences of violence. Such a pause, he contended, might serve to reduce tensions and stop the destructive tsunami. Nevertheless, there isn’t one during the third term, which is usually a critical time for KCSE applicants.
Education officials are gravely concerned about the increase in instances of misbehavior and arson. Julius Ogamba, Cabinet Secretary for Education, drew attention to the fact that many schools do not follow the safety protocols established by the Ministry of Education.
“There have been fatalities and extensive damage to school infrastructure as a result of non-compliance,” stated Ogamba.
He added that, considering the enormous stakes at play during this crucial academic year, the TSC’s participation is appropriate.
But the actual cause of these fires is still unknown. According to early accounts, the repercussions of the just ended teachers’ strike are adding to the frustration of some students over the lack of midterm breaks.
Many students were idle during the weeks-long strike, and tensions haven’t decreased after it was resolved. The situation has apparently gotten worse at several schools as students have complained about not being able to go home.
To investigate the cause of the disturbance, the Ministry of Education is anticipated to begin a thorough examination of the institutions. The purpose of this examination is to identify the causes of the fires and make sure that safety regulations are followed more strictly.
Belio Kipsang, principal secretary for basic education, stated that “we need to understand what is driving this wave of destruction and put measures in place to prevent it from continuing.”
One such effort to stop the pandemonium is the TSC’s most recent regulation, which mandates that school heads and their deputies be present on school grounds at all times. In order to make sure that early detection of signals of discontent prevents them from getting worse, the Commission has also required heightened student surveillance.
The problem has reached a breaking point because of the tragedy at Endarasha Hillside Academy, when a dormitory fire claimed the lives of twenty-one male pupils. While the cause of the fire is still being investigated, government and school leaders are feeling more pressure than ever.
TSC demands harsher penalties, and there is a crackdown on school arsonists.
