Stakeholders have expressed concern at the increasing poor performance in Education within Busia County.
Speaking during a meeting to plan on the way forward, Busia County Quality Assurance and Standards Officer Mr. William Makori noted that Busia is ranked among the ASAL areas like Mandera and Turkana when it comes to education.
“When I look at the County and its residents, I do not think we belong to that category of people who are disadvantaged,” he said adding that the neighboring counties of Bungoma, Kakamega and Siaya are never ranked in that category.
Makori pointed out that Busia is one of the richest counties academically adding that there are very many learned people in the county who rarely give back to the society. “Giving back does not mean dishing out money but engaging on a way forward on how to improve the standards,” he said.
He further stated that child labour is rampant in Teso North and Teso South especially in tobacco growing areas. He noted that proximity with Malaba border has made a number of male students engage in car washing business.
“Sand harvesting along the Asinge area in Teso South is another serious problem affecting the learning of our children,” he said, adding that sand harvesting and fishing in Bunyala is a contributing factor.
Makori urged parents to take their role of guiding their children seriously instead of delegating it to teachers. “The mindset of poverty among the local community is negatively affecting the children,” he said, adding that cross border business is another challenge.
He at the same time pointed out the shortage of teachers and inadequate funding as the internal factors affecting learning in schools.
Busia County KUPPET Executive Secretary Moffats Okisai said that there was a need for parents to support learning institutions. He cited moral decay among a section of learners and parental negligence as other factors affecting the performance in learning institutions.
“We should also have a positive mental attitude towards our schools instead of taking our children to other counties,” he said.
The County plans to hold a stakeholders forum in March this year to chart way forward on improving Education performance in its schools.
By Salome Alwanda
