Learners report back to school across the country after floods delay

Schools finally opened for the second term on Monday after two postponements occasioned by flooding, amid fears about the status of the learning environment.

Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu gave assurances that all is well, saying that day schools would ensure the safety of learners during collection and dropping by providing clear instructions to school drivers and assigning teachers to supervise.

Last week, the CS said that 95 per cent of schools are ready to resume for the second term, but the situation in some learning institutions in seven counties is being explored to ensure children’s safety.

The Ministry directed that Government regulations on school transport should be adhered to, with borders expected to travel back between 6 am and 6 pm.

Madaraka Primary School students heading off to their institution for the second term. (Photo: Charity Kilei)

The Ministry also said there should be unconditional admission of learners and called for the removal of barriers like uniforms and school fees, especially for those affected by floods.

In some schools, learners will have to cope with fresh challenges including submerged compounds and sunken toilets while other learning facilities have been turned into centres of accommodation.

“So far, the situation is manageable and we are able to open schools. For less than five per cent of schools, the president’s pronouncement was that the government would provide Sh1 billion towards the repair of facilities that have been destroyed. We will collaborate with Members of Parliament from respective constituencies that have had facilities destroyed,” said Machogu.

Education Principal Secretary, Dr Belio Kipsang has affirmed that teachers will adequately cover the syllabus without extending the second term, even as he urged head teachers and principals to accommodate learners with fee balances.

Madaraka Primary School students heading off to their institution for the second term. (Photo: Charity Kilei)

Kipsang also assured that the Ministry has laid down adequate strategies to make up for the lost time, adding that the syllabus will be covered in line with the academic year.

“By the time our children are sitting for assessment and examinations at the end of the year, we will have made sure that we have covered the necessary syllabus and content that is expected of us as teachers,” Kipsang said.

He said the Ministry in collaboration with other government agencies, is fixing the damaged facilities at schools, ahead of the reopening.

“As we open schools on Monday, we acknowledge that there are still challenges in a few of our schools in terms of the damage that may have occurred. I give the assurance that we are working together with our MPs through CDF within the shortest time possible to make sure that we bring all facilities to the level that is conducive for learning,” the PS explained.

A spot-check by The Eastleigh Voice showed students and parents adhered to the government's directive.

The reopening of schools in Eastleigh saw a low turnout of students.

At Eastleigh Airport Primary School, numerous classes experienced a notable absence of students.

This trend is particularly evident among students from Mathare, an area heavily impacted by recent floods.

Parents take their children back to school in Eastleigh on May 13, 2024. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif).

Despite the low turnout, some parents expressed relief at the reopening of schools. They cited the boredom experienced by their children at home, with some even causing disruptions.

Hassan Halakhe, a father of two seventh graders, voiced concerns about the potential for his children to engage in illegal activities if schools remained closed.

"Who knows they might even do illegal things, I am glad the schools have reopened," he told The Eastleigh Voice.

Hassan Tala, the headteacher of New Eastleigh Primary, confirmed that the school's population currently stands at a third of its capacity. However, he remains optimistic that attendance will improve in the coming days.

"It's the first day, by tomorrow everyone will be around," he remarked.

Learners reported at Ainsworth Primary School located in Eastleigh’s Muratina Street from as early as 6:30 am.

Pupils were seen reporting at the institution with some escorted by their parents and guardians.

At Parkroad Primary School in Starehe Constituency, learners were seen arriving at the school on Monday morning.

Before the opening of the school, patches of water occasioned by flooding had marooned part of the main entrance. However, the reduction of the intensity of the rain in the city in the last few days provided relief to the parents and learners.

At Muthurwa Primary and Junior Secondary, Heshima Primary and Junior Secondary and Our Lady of Mercy Shauri Moyo primary schools, students reported back alongside their teachers setting the stage for learning following delayed reopening over heavy rains.

Staff who talked to The Eastleigh Voice at Muthurwa and Our Lady of Mercy called on students who are yet to resume to show up during the course of the day.

"Both students and teachers are back, as you can see, they are set to kick off the morning parade. If you have a child at home, ask them to report it's still not late," a guard at one of the two schools said.

Back to school: Students & Staff of Brainhouse Academy in Mathare North cleaning the institution following the aftermath of the floods. pic.twitter.com/8PMSzkLafp

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) May 13, 2024

At the same time, the early morning witnessed scenes of parents walking their children to school in the area.

In Mathare, one of the hardest hit areas by the floods, Mathare North Primary School faces an uphill battle in welcoming back students after being severely impacted by recent floods, with the school still bearing traces of mud and debris.

Headmaster Boniface Matini anticipated the hurdles, citing widespread confusion over school reopening dates as a contributing factor to the low turnout.

"There are so many students who still haven’t reported back. The first day of opening usually has a low turnout but this time it might be special. There are so many families who have been affected by the floods and are still homeless, and the low turnout is also coupled up with the misinformation that has been going around for weeks about when schools will reopen,” Matini explained.

Acknowledging the struggles of families residing along riparian lands, Matini expressed concern for those particularly hard-hit by the floods.

Steve Oduor, a teacher at Brainhouse Academy in Mathare, shared that many parents have visited the school, expressing their inability to provide uniforms and books for their children for the entire week.

“We’ve had parents coming in to be excused, and we told them we understand them. We offered the alternative of the children coming to school with their home clothes until they will be back on their feet. The floods affected everyone here, including the staff, so the least we can do is understand them,” Steve said.

With most families in Mathare still grappling with the aftermath of the floods, hopes linger for a gradual return to normalcy.

Mathare North Primary School which was severely affected by floods experienced a low turnout. (Photo: Hanifa Adan)

“We can hardly afford anything to eat now, let alone take the children back to school and pay their fees. We are waiting for a miracle to be able to even buy uniforms for them,” shared Margaret Anyango, a parent at the school seeking temporary reprieve.

Parents were forced to dig deeper into their pockets as matatu operators hiked their fares as learners scrambled for transport back to their respective schools.

For parents like Jane Muthoni who was taking her daughter to Kangaru Girls in Embu, the return to school signifies more than just academic routines; it's a return to normalcy.

"It's been a challenging time. Having the children back in school means they can resume their studies and regain some stability in their lives. In fact, my child was stressed but she is now relieved after they were told to get back to school since she is a candidate," she said.

However, several parents raised concerns about the spike in fare prices which has added an unexpected burden to an already strained situation.

"I was shocked when I arrived here at the bus station. The fares have doubled since last week. How are we supposed to afford this and still pay school fees?" John Kamau, a father of two, expressed his frustration.

A journey from Nairobi CBD to Embu, a route many students take, has seen fares skyrocket from Sh400 to a staggering Sh700.

Students at the Tea Room bus station, Nairobi CBD awaiting to board matatus to Embu Town on May 13, 2024. (Photo: Lucy Mumbi)

Similarly, the journey to Nyeri has doubled in cost from Sh350 to Sh700 leaving families grappling with financial strains.

For many, these inflated prices are not just inconveniences but stark reminders of the economic disparities exacerbated by unforeseen circumstances such as the floods.

"It's unfair," laments Grace Wangari, a mother of three. "We're already struggling to make ends meet, and now we have to pay almost double for transportation? It's just not right," she said.

In Nairobi’s South B estate,  Monday morning came to life as school children were reporting to various schools.

Learners from Our Lady of Mercy Primary School report as the second term begins on May 13, 2024. (Photo: Maureen Kinyanjui)

Along Aoko Road, both primary and junior secondary students were spotted walking in groups as they headed to school.

At Mukenia Road, the children's crossing spot just outside Mater Hospital was busy as traffic built up slowly as learners were assisted to cross the road.

A stop sign was raised after five minutes for drivers to allow learners to cross the roads as they head to St Catherine Primary School.

Outside Our Lady of Mercy Primary School and Nairobi South School which are next to each other, school children arrived in the company of their parents and guardians.

As seen by The Eastleigh Voice, very few parents entered the school premises. Most of them ensured that their children entered the gates.

The same was witnessed at Plainsview Primary where children were spotted walking in with peers as they engaged in different conversations.

Boda boda operators were busy in the early morning as business thrived while they made various drop-offs of children.

In Mombasa, students returned to classrooms with relief, but the situation in the Coast region's Tana River County paints a starkly different picture.

In Galole Constituency, students face a unique challenge as they navigate broken infrastructure to reach their schools.

Parents and students in Tana River County ride in a canoe across the 150-meter broken Watta Hamesa road in Galole Constituency as they report back to school on May 13, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

The 150-meter stretch of the Watta Hamesa road has been rendered impassable, leaving students with no choice but to resort to unconventional methods of transportation.

Canoes have become the makeshift school buses, ferrying students across the flooded road to ensure they can attend classes.

In contrast, Mombasa students eagerly resumed classes after the two-week delay caused by recent floods. They flooded the streets as early as 6 a.m., reflecting the community's determination to prioritise education despite the challenges posed by the flooding.

Despite the challenges posed by the flooding, which disrupted daily life across the country, the government ensured safety measures were in place before allowing schools to reopen. Parents welcomed the decision, relieved to see their children back in the classroom.

As normalcy returned to Mombasa, students settled back into their routines with renewed determination, undeterred by the setbacks they had faced.

Garissa Primary School pupils at their school on the first day of reopening on May 13, 2024. (Photo: Abdimalik Hajir)

In Kwale County, parents said they were happy that the schools have finally opened after a long break.

Bahati Omar a mother of two said she prefers her children to be in school since she is a working mother.

"While at work I am not at ease because I do not know what my kids are up to. At least when they are at school and I am assured of their safety," she said.

Bahati said staying at home only exposes children to a lot of risks as compared to being in school.

"I am never at home to supervise my kids during the day, I have entrusted them to a house help. I always fear that I will receive a call that my children have been involved in some sort of accident. However, at school I am confident that the teachers are there to take good care of them," she said.

Parents accompany their children as they report back to school in Mombasa on Monday, May 13, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

Another parent, Mwanasha Hamisi said she was about to get a tutor for her Form Four daughter.

"It is a crucial time for children, especially in Form Four. Every minute counts if they fail to complete the syllabus then it will be a problem for them, but I am now glad that they are back in school," she said.

Mwanasha pleaded with the government to request teachers not to send children home for fees.

"The economy is hard. Most of us parents will not be able to pay the fees in full, please spare our children as they have already lost a whole week," she said.

The parents further prayed for the flood victims asking the government to be considerate to parents who have lost everything.

Students head to Allidina Visram High School in Mombasa on Monday, May 13, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

Students at the Coast Bus stage in Mombasa awaiting to board a vehicle as they head back to school on Monday morning, May 13, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

Compiled by Barack Oduor, Mary Wambui, Farhiya Hussein, Abdirahman Khalif, Lucy Mumbi, Maureen Kinyanjui, Mishi Gongo, Abdimalik Hajir, Hanifa Adan.