Another week, another round of school closures. From national schools to county ones, students are rioting, destroying property and forcing principals to send them home. Some head teachers are now taking pre-emptive action—shipping learners home to “cool off” before things explode.
Sounds familiar? It should.
This is not new. Every time school unrest hits Kenya, the government rushes to form a committee. Wise men and women are appointed. They hold meetings, collect views and write a report full of recommendations. Then the dust settles. Students go back to class. And that report? It finds a nice spot on a shelf somewhere to gather dust.
Until the next riot.
We cannot keep running in this painful circle. The issues are not a mystery: overcrowded dormitories, poor food, harsh discipline and a growing disconnect between students and administrators. These problems have names and solutions.
The Ministry of Education does not need another committee. It needs action. Implement the recommendations from previous task forces. Hold school administrators accountable. And create real channels for students to air grievances before they reach for matches and stones.
Kenyan parents are tired of receiving panicked phone calls. Students are tired of being sent home. Break the cycle. Now.
Quote of the Day: “Live or die, but don't poison everything.” —Canadian-born American author Saul Bellow was born on June 10, 1915
