The Ministry of Education, through the Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, has issued new directives affecting all boarding schools in the country.
Speaking during the Elimu Mashinani forum in Wajir County on May 31, Bitok said the government has instructed education officers to implement enhanced safety measures across boarding institutions.
In his announcement, the PS said the inspections will begin on June 2 and be completed within 10 days.
“We have directed our officers to conduct a very thorough inspection within the next 10 days of all boarding schools to confirm afresh whether they are meeting safety standards and to provide recommendations,” Bitok said.
“We are going to take very serious action against any principal, teacher, or school that deliberately violates the provisions of the safety standards,” he added.
Ministry of Education steps up safety in schools after Utumishi Academy fire
The move comes as investigations continue into the fire at Utumishi Girls Academy, where 16 students lost their lives, and 79 others were injured.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba stated that preliminary findings indicate the fire may have been an act of arson, while investigations into the circumstances leading to the fatalities are still ongoing.
Bitok described the incident as very unfortunate, adding that early findings point to student-on-student violence and gaps in safety and discipline within the school system.
Also Read: CS Ogamba Dissolves Utumishi Academy School Board
He further said that prior to the incident, he had convened meetings with principals, county directors of education, regional directors, and field officers, where he directed strict enforcement of safety regulations across schools.
“I told them this is a very, very sensitive term and you must be on top of things. You must listen to the students,” he said, stressing the importance of maintaining open communication channels to detect and address emerging grievances before they escalate.
TSC Probes School Officials as Education Ministry Expands Quality Assurance Workforce
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has opened investigations into the conduct of the principal and two teachers at Utumishi Girls Academy.
Also Read: Mike Sonko Issues Update on the Health of Students Injured in the Utumishi Dormitory Fire
TSC Chief Executive Officer Evelyn Mitei said preliminary reports suggest the teachers may have ignored warnings about possible student unrest prior to the incident.
In a separate development, the Ministry of Education has expanded its quality assurance workforce to 1,000 officers following a government-approved recruitment exercise.
PS Julius Bitok said the officers will lead nationwide inspections covering approximately 3,200 boarding secondary schools across the country.
“We have 9,500 secondary schools, and of these 30 percent, about 3,200 are boarding schools. Every officer is supposed to visit about three schools at most across the country, and that is actually manageable,” he said
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