The Ministry of Education (MoE) has ordered the immediate inspection of all schools following the tragic fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy, which claimed the lives of 21 individuals.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 11, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the Ministry will inspect of all public and private basic learning institutions
Ogamba mentioned that although the provisions of the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya have been adhered to by most schools, a few institutions have flouted the guidelines.
This he said has led to most unfortunate and regrettable accidents that have at times, cost innocent lives, caused injuries and led to loss of property.
“The recent incident at Hillside Endarasha Academy, Nyeri Country, in which 21 innocent learners lost their lives as a result of a fire tragedy, has underscored the need for the Government and school managers to firmly enforce school safety guidelines at all times, if we are to avoid a recurrence of similar cases in the future.”
Ministry Directs Inspections of All Schools
“It has, therefore, become necessary for the Ministry of Education, jointly with relevant agencies, to conduct an urgent countrywide inspection of all public and private basic learning institutions to assess their levels of compliance with the guidelines of the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya.”
The Ministry stated that the first phase of the inspection, which started this week, will cover all boarding Primary and Junior schools in the country, while the second phase of the inspection exercise will cover Secondary schools.
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The inspection will involve officials from the Ministries of Education, Interior and National Administration, Health and Department of Public Works.
Furthermore, it will also involve officers from the County Governments and the Kenya Red Cross.
Aim of the Inspection
The inspection will provide an opportunity for the Government to unearth reasons behind the recent spate of school fires that have been reported in a few schools in the country.
Additionally, they will be required to make appropriate recommendations to remedy the situation, in cases where there are fresh interventions required that are a departure from the indiscipline cases reported in the previous years.
“Firm and decisive action will be taken against Ministry of Education officials, school administrators and managers found to have flouted the guidelines stipulated in the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya, in accordance with the Basic Education Act, 2013,” added CS Ogamba.
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The directive follows a series of fire incidents reported in over five schools within less than a week.
After the fire at Endarasha Academy, another blaze occurred on the evening of Saturday, September 7, at Isiolo Girls High School in Isiolo County.
Subsequently, on Monday, September 9, additional fires were reported at Bukhalalire Secondary School in Busia County and Ortum Boys in West Pokot County.
Additionally, to add on the fire case, on Tuesday September 10 evening, a fire incident was reported at Isiolo Boys.
Fortunately, no casualties have been reported from these incidents.
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