The government will hold accountable primary school heads whose schools lose digital devices.
The Trans Nzoia County Commissioner (CC), Samson Ojwang while addressing a County Development Implementation Coordination Committee meeting in his board room yesterday directed both the county education officer and Teachers service commission to work together and guarantee safety of the devices.
The CC was responding to the disclosure by the County ICT Officer, Daniel Rono that at least 39 devices were missing at various schools in the region.
We have 132 learning devices, four teacher devices, two content accessories and one projector missing in schools,” Rono told the CDICC meeting.
He however, said only 12 schools out of 21 whose devices have disappeared have reported the matter to police. Rono said the rest are yet to report and efforts to have them do so have been futile.
The CC reminded school heads that they are custodians of government assets and all inventory must be availed for accountability purposes.
According to Ojwang, schools’ heads who were transferred during delocalization must show clear handing over of documents to ascertain how the devices were handed over to them.
Endebbes Sub County that received the least devices had surprisingly the highest number of devices lost.
He said that police will handle the investigations to establish how the devices got lost and any head teacher found culpable will be dealt with accordingly.
The area County Director of Education, Dr. Salome Maina reported that preparations for both KCSE and KCPE were complete and students and pupils were ready to sit for the exams.
The CC warned education officials against engaging in exams cheating, adding that security personnel were on high alert and will arrest anyone engaging in the vice.
He asked residents to report any suspicious actions as concerns exam malpractices, adding that children should be left to get results that are not manipulated.
By Pauline Ikanda