James Momanyi and Victor Raballa @PeopleDailyKe
Most Kenyans want the current schools unrest addressed through stakeholders’ dialogue as opposed to court processes, a survey by a civil society group shows.
The findings of the What’s going on in our schools? Citizens’ views on recent developments in education report released yesterday by Twaweza—a group that deals with children issues—indicate that a vast majority of those who were interviewed also want learners to be given space by school administrators to air grievances.
The wave of schools unrest saw more than 100 institutions torched between June and July. Specifically, three out of 10 citizens (34 per cent) think students need an open forum to air their grievances.
This is the most popular suggested solution by the respondents. Other responses include providing guidance and counselling services to students (24 per cent), capacity building on how to handle student issues (12 per cent) and also enlightening parents also to handle children (five per cent).
Majority of Kenyans do not want those responsible for torching school properties arrested or punitive measures meted against them. Only six per cent of those interviewed supported the idea of imprisoning the students involved in the arson cases.
Another 19 per cent approved the re-introduction of corporal punishment in schools while 12 per cent said the perpetrators should be expelled. Meanwhile, Education stakeholders have criticised the move by MPs to reintroduce ranking of schools and called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to reject the bill.
Speaking to People Daily, Kuppet secretary general Akello Misori and Elimu Yetu Coalition coordinator Janet Muthoni instead appealed to the lawmakers to address the challenges and inequalities facing the sector to fully equip schools for fair competition among themselves.
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