The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) Chairperson Kahi Indimuli has urged collective effort to end school fires.
Besides being KESSHA chairperson, Kahi Indimuli is also Chief Principal at Machakos Boys High School.
Kahi urged all stakeholders of education to stop blaming each other and establish lasting solutions to end the problems of student strikes in schools. Besides, Indimuli said that children who have engaged in arson have put parents in a difficult financial position when they have to pay for the damage caused on school property instead of focusing on paying school fees for their learners.
Kahi Indimuli also said that student unrest cannot only be blamed on one cause since students react differently in each incident which leads to strikes. He argued that it is not wise to only suggest one reason as the cause of student strikes.
“There are many opinions being said and some do not have substance. Schools should help with their knowledge on strikes,” said Indimuli.
Indimuli said that key issues should be addressed instead of people blaming each other. One of the main issues is indiscipline among learners.
“Indiscipline leads to anarchy. If seniors do not have discipline, then juniors will follow what they are doing. We have to deal with this issue from a national perspective and parents should lead by example,” added Indimuli.
Another issue he pointed is that some laws and guidelines on how to manage learners have created the issue of a lack of discipline in schools.
Indimuli revealed that the guidance and counselling that is offered in schools at the moment is a long term process and students are required to attend many sessions. He revealed that this has put extra responsibility to teachers who carry out guidance and counselling besides the subjects that they have to teach in schools.
“I think their load has to be reduced. This can be done by the hiring of more teachers. The that the exchequer should allocate more funds. Therefore a collective effort is essential in dealing with this issue,” said the KESSHA chairperson.
Indimuli also wondered what the responsibilities of parents are, as it was revealed that some learners had been taking drugs during the COVID-19 holiday.
Indimuli told learners who engage in school fires will be on their own and shall face the full force of the law.
He also urged all principals not to readmit learners who have been involved in strikes in schools. He also urged the private school to do the same.
The reintroduction of inter-school competitions is also a suggestion that the KESSHA chairperson came up with.
“Students are very energetic. We need to utilize their energy using games. Engaging other students could be a solution as well,” added Kahi Indimuli.
Kahi Indimuli implored all stakeholders of education to hold a dialogue on infrastructure, funding and discipline.
“ Funding is a serious problem at the moment. Schools are indebted because the government’s capitation does not reach schools in time and is not enough because some students miss out on NEMIS and are handled by the registrar of persons,” said Kahi Indimuli.