The Director General of Education Mr. Elyas Abdi has directed school heads to make sure all students report back to school on opening day.
Abdi said the government plans to re-open schools on January 4, 2021 despite covid-19 challenges that paralyzed education system in the country in March this year but there were health measures in place to ensure the children’s safety.
Addressing Kenya Music Festival training of teachers and adjudicators from Meru, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Marsabit, Samburu and Isiolo Counties at Isiolo Girls Secondary School yesterday, Abdi said that education standards in Northern Kenya had improved in both primary and secondary schools.
“The available records show that children from pastoral areas had improved in national examination performance despite poor roads, communications, lack of adequate internet coverage, poor schools’ infrastructure and shortage of teachers due to insecurity,” he added.
The DG said over 40 percent of students from Arid and Semi-Arid lands went to public Universities which would eventually improve the living standards of their families in future.
He added that insecurity has been the main challenge affecting pastoralist communities and their lifestyle of moving with animals in search of water and pasture hence affecting education standard.
Abdi said that livestock movement had previously affected learning where children had a prime duty of herding compared to today where the government has improved watering areas and introduced free and compulsory primary education.
The Education boss said that North Horr Boys Secondary school and Isiolo Girls Secondary school have made local schools in pastoral areas proud by taking position one in the National Music Festival in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Isiolo North MP Hassan Odha challenged chiefs to work closely with the Nyumba Kumi representatives to make sure that all students report back to school in January.
He said that the Constituency Development Fund would continue supporting poor students in both secondary, local colleges and public Universities saying over the weekend he gave out cheques ranging from sh.20, 000 to 50,000 for 70 university students.
The MP said that basic education is a must and every parent should be warned that keeping girls at home warranted arrest and prosecution.
By Abduba Mamo
