Education

Learners affected by floods to be admitted to neighbouring schools -Ministry

Students at bus station in Nairobi travelling to their homes after closing school on March 29, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki).

By Bashir Mohammed | Saturday, May 18, 2024

President William Ruto promised an emergency kitty to aid affected learning institutions, and the Ministry of Education is working to ensure all children return to their respective schools.

Headteachers across the country have been instructed to admit learners affected by floods unconditionally, according to the Director of Planning at the State Department for Basic Education, Masini Ichwara.

This comes as schools reopened for the second term on May 13, after two postponements due to floods that have ravaged the country since April.

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"The schools are under instructions to accommodate all the IDP students in the nearby schools as the situation normalizes, and then they will be able to go back to their schools. For now, let them come to school with the uniforms they have from the previous schools and start learning," Ichwara said.

"We understand that the floods have impacted parents, who may lack the financial means to purchase new uniforms, adding to their burden. That's why we call on the heads of the schools to deal with the temporary situation," he added.

President William Ruto promised an emergency kitty to aid affected learning institutions, and the Ministry of Education is working to ensure all children return to their respective schools.

Ichwara encouraged school heads to register learners in the NEMIS system to ensure capitation reaches every deserving pupil.

"We acknowledge the issue with birth certificates, we urge the local government, particularly the chiefs and birth and death registration offices, to collaborate closely with schools and parents to ensure these children receive birth certificates," he stated.

"The government has pledged to provide capitation to every child, so it is important to capture these learners' details. We are asking parents, at least, to work with the heads of institutions to be able to register the children," he said.

Ichwara said the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is working around the clock to address the issue of teacher shortage." We call for patience from all stakeholders."

Adan Roble, North Eastern Regional Director of Education, confirmed all schools in the region are now open, except two still submerged in flood waters.

Adan reports that the affected schools have temporarily relocated their students to nearby schools, where they will remain until they can repair and rebuild their infrastructure.