More than 800 candidates who sat for KCPE in Uasin Gishu County last year and were admitted to form one have not reported to their various schools.
According to the County Director of Education, Harrison Muriuki, only 89.8 percent of the students have reported with 90.5 percent being boys while 89.0 percent are girls.
“So far 90.56 percent of our boys have reported to form one, 89 percent girls have reported. In total, the number that has reported to form one is 89.81 percent,” he said during an interview.
The county director urged all parents whose children were yet to report to ensure that they do so in compliance with the government’s 100 percent transition from primary to secondary school.
Moiben Sub County is the worst-hit recording only 59 percent admission to form one compared to other sub-counties where the number of students who have reported to form one ranges from 94-98 percent.
Muriuki stated that they were working closely with the county commissioner and area chiefs to ensure that all children report to school, adding that through their concerted effort a number of students who were still holed at home were taken to Kimumu and GK Magereza secondary schools within Eldoret municipality.
“Parents should ensure their children report to school with or without school fees, they can also take advantage of the available day secondary schools within their areas to make sure the children are enrolled to form one, parents whose children will fail to report risk arrest and prosecution”, he warned.
“Free day secondary schools are sponsored by the government and they are not supposed to pay anything except for lunch, which is optional. They should take those children to school and if they do not, the law will take its course. We have agreed that we are going to arrest them and take them to court,” reiterated the county director.
He further discouraged the students from joining businesses, especially the popular bodaboda operating business, saying they were still young and needed to first acquire an education certificate and later do any kind of business they wished in life.
Muriuki added that the allocation of bursary was fair, especially the ministry of education bursary which targeted needy children from the slums.
He pointed out that cases have emerged in the county where students register for national examinations and disappear only to reappear on examination days.
“We have put the necessary action to counter such behaviour, with chiefs being instructed to look out for such students and ensure they are taken back to school, and where necessary arrest the parents who allow such behaviour”, he added.
By Chemutai Korir and Kiptanui Cherono
