Create avenue for students to air grievances- CS Nkaissery

Interior Ministry Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has asked Secondary School Principals to create open communication channels for students, adding that this could help curb the rising cases of insecurity.

Speaking during a luncheon organized by Ministry of Education hosted for Principals of National Schools at a Nairobi hotel, Nkaissery said student hooliganism, violence and wanton destruction of school property was partly caused by limited channels of communication.

The CS explained that students opt for violent protests when they don’t have appropriate and constructive ways of airing their grievances.

“They vent their emotions through riots,” the CS stated.

Nkaissery drew his conclusion from a report that his ministry had complied following investigations into cases of student indiscipline.

The CS, who addressed the Principals on the invitation of Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i, said that there had been 120 reported cases of student unrest in the last 18 months.

92 cases happened in 2015, while 28 cases had occurred in the last six months. 90% of the cases took place in secondary schools. Nkaissery said action needs to be taken to ensure that the destructive trend is curbed.

He asked school heads to lead by example, adding that embracing discipline would bring an end to the violence: “If you are not disciplined, problems occur.”

In his remarks, Dr. Matiang’i said that the Ministry of Education would put in place a mentorship programme for school heads. The move would be aimed at enhancing security and improving management in institutions.

The Principal of the State Department of Basic Education asked the school leaders to take time and understand the needs and aspirations of the students, adding that part of the problem bedeviling schools could be mutual distrust between the old and young generation. He said that this generation gap could be managed through dialogue.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the Principals of National Schools, Mrs. Dorothy Kamwilu said Principals of secondary schools had challenges managing schools. She called for support from stakeholders, adding this would help school heads to boost security.

Present during the occasion included the Principal Secretary for Higher Education, Prof. Collette Suda, Chief Executive officer for the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, Dr. Julius Jwan, the Director of Secondary and Tertiary Education, Mr. Robert Masese.