Narok: Administration officers asked to ensure all children report back to school

Narok County Commissioner Kipkech Lotiatia has instructed all the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) to follow up and ensure all children under their jurisdiction have reported back to school as the school calendar begins this year.

The officers were instructed to move from village to village to mop out any child who could have been left behind during this season of school opening.

Lotiatia said any parent whose child will not report back to school as expected will be held culpable and could risk arrest and prosecution in a court of law.

“We are very alert to ensure no child is left behind as the schools open for the first term of the year. We will be moving from village to village to ensure all children have reported back to school,” he said.

“The schools will also be required to provide a list of children who have not reported back to school so that we can do the necessary follow-up.” 

He decried several school-going girls who could have been impregnated during the long school holiday but encouraged them to report back to school as they awaited to give birth.

“Every child should go back to school despite their condition. The schools should be able to account for all the learners because we want to achieve 100 per cent transition,” he added.

For a long time, cases of early marriages, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and teenage pregnancies have been a barrier to education for children in Narok County as many girls are forced to drop out of school after falling pregnant.

In 2016, the Kenya Health Demographic Survey (KHDS) ranked Narok County top position on teenage pregnancy at 40 per cent. 

However, in 2022, the county improved and was ranked position four at 28 per cent of teenage pregnancy.