Boni schools remain shut as chopper unavailable to ferry teachers

Learners in terror-prone areas of Boni in Lamu County have yet to report back to school for the new term which commenced three weeks ago.

This was after authorities failed to acquire a chopper to help airlift teachers back to the affected schools as has been the norm.

The situation has left over 350 pupils in Boni forest stranded in their homes as all five schools in the area remain shut.

The schools are Milimani, Basuba, Mangai, Mararani, and Kiangwe primary schools which have learners right from Early Childhood Education to Grade 6.

Only Kiangwe Primary School in Kiangwe town has been able to reopen after they were able to ferry in their teachers via boats.

Kiangwe Village has a vantage point owing to its proximity to the Indian Ocean, which easily provides an easy and convenient alternative entry into the village, away from the glaring Shabaab threat on the roads.

The other four schools are however at a major disadvantage as the only access road to the institutions remains unsafe due to Al-Shabaab attacks and ambushes on vehicles and air transport.

Over the last few years, military and police choppers have been used to airlift teachers from the Mokowe airstrip to the respective Boni schools.

That has however not been the case this term which commenced on May 13 this year, as parents and learners wait in anticipation.

Angry parents and Boni leaders have asked the government to offer a long-lasting solution to the issue of teacher transportation to Boni schools as each term experiences similar delays.

For some time now, the Boni community has continued to beseech the government to recruit form four leavers from the area, sponsor their training as teachers and have them deployed to Boni schools as one of the measures to permanently solve the recurring issue.

Boni Forest MCA Deko Barissa reiterated that such a strategy would ensure the Boni children don’t miss out on school simply because teachers located outside their community, are unable to report back.

“It’s easier to train our youth and have them deployed here so that we don’t encounter such challenges each term. The teachers left during the midterm break last term and have never returned,” said Barissa.

Boni community leader Abdi Ali acknowledged the fears of the current teachers whose safety he says must come first.

“However, our children are paying a very high cost for it. We know why they are scared and we also understand that they have to be transported here so we don’t blame them. But we would appreciate a permanent strategy to all this,” he said.

Parents are worried that the situation may result in teenage pregnancies and school dropouts as the learners remain idle in their homes.

Lamu County Education Director, Zachary Mutuiri confirmed that the schools in Boni Forest had not reopened majorly due to challenges in their transportation plan.

“The areas in question have quite a number of issues, topmost being security. We are however in talks with the Interior Ministry through the county commissioner, to see on how to ferry the teachers to the schools,” said Mutuiri.

Lamu East Deputy County Commissioner, George Kubai said plans were ongoing to ferry the teachers to the schools.

“We were unable to secure a chopper this time but we are considering transporting them by road. But even then, the rains and floods are not making it easier since they have rendered some sections of the road impassable. It will be resolved very soon,” he said.

A source in the military who spoke on condition of anonymity intimated that the reason why choppers are not available for the same was due to an ongoing nationwide chopper inspection following the death of Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla last month.