Education stakeholders have raised concern over the high number of ‘out of school children’ in Narok county and called for collective measures to retain all learners in school.
Narok County Deputy Director of Education Antony Makori said a survey conducted in 2021 showed that over 30, 000 school going children in the county were out of school for various reasons and called on all stakeholders to come on board and ensure that no child remains at home when their peers are in school.
He lauded UNICEF that has been working closely with the education department to improve infrastructure, supply learning materials and sensitise the community on the need to embrace education.
Makori observed that many children among the pastoralists community failed to go to school because they were herding their parents’ livestock, while others engage in cheap labour to get money to feed their poor families.
Other reasons raised included retrogressive cultural practices and parental negligence as a result of dysfunctional families and alcoholism.
The County Deputy Director called on all stakeholders who include religious leaders, village elders, chiefs, youth representatives and council of elders to help in identifying children out of school and enroll them back to school.
Deputy head teacher at Masikonde Primary School in Narok town Ms. Salina Ben linked school drop outs to poverty and hunger in homes, asking the government to provide revive the school feeding programme in all public schools.
Narok Township chief Daniel Sankale attributed out of school cases to poverty and Gender Based Violence (GBV) that he said are on the raise in the county saying most of these children end up on the streets.
Christabel Otieno, a radio presenter who runs a programme dubbed “Makala ya Tumaini’ said through her program, she airs topics that encourage society to embrace education.
She underscored the need to take all children to school including those living with disability as many families choose to hide the disabled children at home.
Rose Kwamboka, a groundnuts vendor and a mother of four children said her children spend quality time at home because of lack of school fees and uniform. She called on well-wishers to help sponsor her children’s education.
By Ann Salaton
