The government has set out measures to stabilize learning institutions following a surge in student unrest across the country.
Student unrest in the country has led to some schools, including State House Girls, being closed indefinitely, and some schools going on strike.
On May 13, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok directed all Regional, County, and Sub-County Directors of Education to ensure that all school heads attend the meeting.
Bitok convened a virtual meeting with High school principals, regional and county education directors, sub-county officials, and senior ministry officers to intervene on student unrest.
“We are aware of incidences of unrest in some of our schools which have unfortunately interfered with smooth learning and the closure of some institutions. We must be on the lookout for the triggers to effectively preempt them,” said Bitok.
Measures Schools Must Adopt After Student Unrest
During the meeting chaired by PS Bitok, student unrest was attributed to weak communication channels between students and the school’s management
Also Read: Education Ministry Summons All Principals to Crisis Meeting
Officers from different regions briefed the ministry on ongoing challenges, highlighting the need for closer monitoring of student welfare and improved communication.
Measures that should be adopted include:
- Strengthen communication channels between students, teachers, parents, and school administrators
- Involve learners in selected decision-making processes to build trust and responsibility
- Adopt fair, humane, and corrective disciplinary approaches instead of punitive punishment
- Strengthen guidance and counseling departments to support learners’ emotional and academic needs
- Improve student welfare systems and overall learning environments in schools
- Intensify sensitization and prevention of drug and substance abuse among learners
- Promote responsible use of social media through digital literacy programmes
- Reduce exam-related pressure by providing academic and psychosocial support
- Establish and strengthen early warning systems to detect unrest triggers early
- Improve coordination between schools, sub-county, and county education offices for rapid response
- Enhance stakeholder collaboration between schools, parents, and education officials
- Promote student-centered school management to ensure learners feel heard and supported
Causes of Unrest in Schools
The ministry identified several factors contributing to rising cases of unrest, including weak communication between students and school management, the exclusion of learners from decision-making processes, and harsh disciplinary approaches
Other contributing factors include examination pressure, poor learning environments, peer influence, drug and substance abuse, and the growing negative influence of social media on student behavior.
Education officials also pointed to gaps in guidance and counseling services, which they said have left some learners without adequate psychosocial support.
PS Bitok urged the school heads to enhance good communication between students, to enable the identification of challenges for timely resolution
“Schools must strengthen communication channels between students, teachers, parents, and administrators to promote trust, openness, and timely resolution of concerns,” added Bitok.
Also Read: State House Girls High School Closed Indefinitely
Unrest Leading to School Closures
On Tuesday, May 12, chaos erupted at Kaumoni Boys High School in Kaiti, Makueni County, after students allegedly set several administrative blocks ablaze.
The students protested over what they termed poor school management and unresolved grievances.
The fire gutted offices, including the principal’s office, the deputy principal’s office, the dean of students’ office, the laboratory, and the staffroom, causing extensive damage estimated at millions of shillings.
In a similar incident in April, Mirithu Girls Secondary School in Kiambu County was closed indefinitely after a dormitory fire caused by a suspected electrical fault destroyed property.
The blaze broke out during evening preps, leaving students counting losses as their belongings went up in flames.
