About 10, 000 pupils in Narok County did not report to school when schools were reopened in January 2021 after nine months break of Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking during a National Government Service Delivery Committee meeting held in the county commissioner’s conference hall, the Narok Director of Education Ms Jane Njogu asked all stakeholders to ensure that all school going children are back to school.
“I call upon everyone to help return the children back to school. Anyone who knows of a child who is not in school should report to the authority immediately,” said Ms Njogu.
The meeting chaired by Narok County Commissioner Evans Achoki, was attended by three deputy county commissioners, County security team and all heads of departments.
The education director reported that during the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) season, 15 candidates gave birth and during Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) period, 32 candidates delivered.
“The numbers are worrying and stakeholders should work to avert this trend” he said.
However, the director recommended the secondary schools in the county for performing well in the just concluded national exam saying most of the schools had recorded a positive variance.
Commissioner Achoki on his part reiterated the need for the stakeholders to ensure all school going children are in school as required.
“It is criminal to hold your child who should be in school at home. Parents should take advantage of the free primary education programme offered by the government to take their children to school,” he said.
According to statistics in the county department of Health, about 15, 542 teenage girls in Narok County became pregnant in the year 2020 when schools were closed because of Covid-19 pandemic.
Number recorded is a reflection of the number of girls who visited the Antenatal Clinics in the various hospitals in the county throughout the said year.
By Ann Salaton
