Narok County Commissioner Kipkech Lotiatia has instructed all the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) to follow up and ensure all children under their jurisdiction have reported back to school as the school calendar begins this year.
The officers were instructed to move from village to village to mop out any child who could have been left behind during this season of school opening.
Lotiatia, who was at his office, said any parent whose child will not report back to school as expected will be held culpable and could risk arrest and prosecution in a court of law.
“We are very alert to ensure no child is left behind as the schools open for the first term of the year. We will be moving from village to village to ensure all children have reported back to school.
The schools will also be required to provide a list of children who have not reported back to school so that we can do the necessary follow-up,” he said.
He decried that a number of school-going girls could have been impregnated during the long school holiday but encouraged them to report back to school as they await to deliver their babies.
“Every child should go back to school despite their condition. The schools should be able to account for all the learners because we want to achieve 100 per cent transition,” he added.
For a long time, cases of early marriages, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and teenage pregnancies have been a barrier to education for children in Narok County, as many girls are forced to drop out of school after falling pregnant.
In the year 2016, the Kenya Health Demographic Survey (KHDS) ranked Narok County in the top position on teenage pregnancy at 40 per cent. However, in the year 2022, the county improved and was ranked fourth at 28 per cent of teenage pregnancy.
By Ann Salaton
