More than 10,000 pupils in Narok county did not report to school when the institutions were reopened in January after nine months closure due to Covid-19.
County director of education Jane Njogu said the numbers are worrying and there is a need to bring back the learners to school.
She made the remarks during a national government service delivery meeting held in the county commissioner’s office.
“I call upon everyone to help return the children to school. Anyone who knows of a child who is not in school should report to the authority immediately,” said Njogu.
Njogu also revealed that during KCPE exams season, 15 candidates gave birth while others 32 delivered during KCSE.
However, the director commended the secondary schools in the county for performing well in this year's national exams, saying most of the schools had recorded a positive variance.
County commissioner Evans Achoki, who chaired the meeting, said stakeholders should ensure all children are in school as required.
“It is criminal to hold your child who should be in school at home. Parents should take advantage of the free primary education programme offered by the government to take their children to school,” said Achoki.
According to statistics in the county department of Health, about 15,542 teenage girls in Narok county became pregnant last year when schools were closed because of Covid-19 pandemic.
The numbers recorded were a reflection of girls who visited the antenatal clinics in the various hospitals in the county throughout the year.
The National Parents Association says Narok, Kilifi and Kakamega counties lead in cases of teenage pregnancies.
The association said 44 per cent of Narok schoolgirls were pregnant, leading to fears of a massive dropout rate when schools reopen.