KUPPET faults State for Hillside Academy fire tragedy, calls for urgent school safety reforms

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has blamed the government for the Hillside Endarasha Academy fire that claimed 17 lives and left 14 pupils injured on Thursday night.

Speaking to the media on Friday, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori called for strict adherence to safety measures in schools.

He referenced a similar incident at Precious Talents Academy in Dagoretti South, Nairobi, in September 2019, where eight pupils died and 64 were injured after classroom walls collapsed.

KUPPET pointed out that after that tragedy, safety measures were proposed to the then Education Cabinet Secretary, but they have yet to be implemented.

Misori accused the Kenya Kwanza government, through the Ministry of Education, of ignoring calls to oversee compliance with policies under the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya, 2018.

"While we mourn, we appeal to the government to take serious measures to assure safety in our schools and prevent such painful events in future.

Almost five years ago, the country faced a similar tragedy at Precious Talents Academy. KUPPET initiated a study to establish the level of compliance with school safety policies and recommend long-lasting solutions," he said.

The Secretary-General outlined the safety guidelines in the manual, which include standards for building materials, classroom sizes, window dimensions, ventilation, and the number of students allowed in a given space.

"The answer to these disasters is known. Schools must be made to comply with safety policies under the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya, 2018. This document contains guidelines on the safety of learners and all members of school communities," Misori added.

KUPPET members, led by Secretary-General Akelo Misori and chairman Omboko Milemba, during a past press conference. (Photo: Handout)

KUPPET had previously proposed several measures to enhance student safety, including a review and harmonisation of all policies and guidelines related to safety, security, and disaster management in the education sector.

Increased funding

The union also advocated for increased funding for safety in schools and recommended that safety training be provided both to trainee teachers in colleges and to those already working in the field.

Despite developing these proposals and advocating for their implementation, Misori noted that the findings, which supported the extensive work on school safety by the Directorate of Quality Assurance, were shared with the Cabinet Secretary but have yet to be acted upon.

At the same time, the post-primary teachers' union Secretary-General urged the country to "re-think the place of boarding schools in our education system."

"School Safety is an integral and indispensable component of the teaching and learning process. Indeed, no meaningful teaching and learning can take place in an environment that is unsafe and insecure to learners, teachers and school communities. It is, therefore, important that educational stakeholders foster a safe and secure school environment," Misori added.

The Hillside Endarasha Academy fire tragedy has sent shockwaves through the country.

As a result, President William Ruto on Friday evening declared three days of national mourning to honour students who died in the tragedy.

"As a solemn testament to the indelible mark left upon the nation's consciousness by the spirits of the seventeen departed children, Kenya shall observe three days of national mourning," Ruto stated.

To honour the memory of the victims, the Head of State directed that the flags of the Republic of Kenya and the East African Community (EAC) be flown at half-mast during the period of mourning. The flags will be lowered from dawn on Monday, September 9, 2024, until sunset on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.

This directive applies to the State House, all Kenyan Diplomatic Missions, public buildings, public grounds, military bases, posts, stations, naval vessels, and throughout the entire country.