The Ministry of Education has unveiled a sweeping 16-point directive aimed at curbing the escalating wave of school unrest across Kenya. Following a high-level meeting involving top education directors and security officials, the government has mandated immediate nationwide assessments of all boarding schools, the installation of CCTV cameras, and a strict ban on joint mock examinations.
Stringent Security Measures Mandated
In a decisive move to deter arson and strikes, the Ministry has directed all schools to install CCTV cameras. Notably, the directive specifies that the central command station must not be located in the principal’s office. Schools are required to deploy dedicated personnel to monitor learner movements and report suspicious activities.
According to the resolutions, an alarming 99 percent of school strikes and fires occur during evening preparation (preps) time. Consequently, school management is ordered to intensify patrols during these hours, ensuring no student remains in the dormitories at unauthorized times.
Furthermore, all students returning from academic trips, excursions, or mid-term breaks must undergo thorough frisking to prevent illegal materials from entering school premises.
Overhaul of School Routines and Safety Protocols
To protect day scholars, the Ministry has enforced strict adherence to the Basic Education Regulations of 2015. The daily school routine must be followed to the letter, explicitly prohibiting students from being on the roads at 5:00 a.m. while heading to school, or at 8:00 p.m. when returning home.
“Boarding schools where decongestion is needed, decongestion is to be done immediately,” the document states, demanding 100 percent compliance with the schools’ safety standards manual. For more updates on school safety protocols, visit teacher.co.ke.
Shift in School Leadership Styles
The Ministry is also targeting administrative friction as a root cause of unrest. Principals have been instructed to abandon “dictatorship and authoritarian methods” in favor of a communicative and approachable leadership style. School heads are now required to address student welfare and grievances promptly.
In a move to reduce academic pressure, the directive explicitly outlaws any joint mock examinations whatsoever.
Administrative Actions and Assessments
To ensure full implementation, County Directors of Education (CDEs) will hold urgent meetings with Sub-County Directors and Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASOs). A standardized assessment tool will be shared by the Director of QAS to evaluate all boarding schools from the national to the sub-county level.
Additionally, all schools must convene Board of Management (BOM) meetings immediately to discuss security matters, ensuring a collaborative approach to maintaining peace in educational institutions.
Here are the 16 points outlined in the document:
1. A Nation wide assessment of all boarding schools at National, Regional I, County and Sub County levels.
2. CDE’s to hold meeting with SCDE’s and QASO’s.
3. Assessment of all schools to be done at the County ND Sub County
4. CDE’s to convey a CEB meetings to be attended by the RDE, County Commissioner and the security team.
5. All schools to hold BOM meeting to discuss security matters in schools.
6. Boarding schools where decongestion is needed decongestion to be done immediately.
7. All schools must adhere to schools safety standards manual 100 percent
8. Director QAS to share a tool that will be used by Field Officers as they assess all boarding schools.
9. 99percent of strikes and burning of the school happens during preps. Management to intensify patrol during the time to go ensure no student is at the dorm at unauthorized hour.
10. Schools to install CCTV, have a centralized command station not the principal’s office and have someone watch the movement of learners at the command center and report any suspicious movement to the administration.
11. All students who are coming from trips, escations or reporting back from home MUST be frisked thoroughly to nub any illegal material brought back to school.
12. Principals to adopt a communicative way of leadership ad opposed to dictatorship and authoritarian method. They should be approachable to handle students welfare and stakeholders issues.
13. Their should be no joint mock or exam whatsoever.
14. The daily school routine as prescribed in the Basic Education Regulations 2015 must be adhered to fully. The time of reporting to school and leaving school for day scholars should be implemented fully. There should be no coming to school early and leaving late risking lives of learners.
15. No student should be found on roads at 5am going to school or 8pm leaving school.
16. Students issues raised with management should be addressed promptly.