Uasin Gishu: Parents close school over Junior Secondary School failures

The irate parents accused the Ministry of Education at both county and national government levels, of neglecting their children saying only two JSS teachers were posted to teach 45 pupils. 

Armed with padlocks and placards, the parents said JSS pupils have not been learning due to a lack of teachers, books and other necessities.

“Sisi kama wazazi tumekasirika kwa sababu ni mwalimu mmoja against 14 subjects na hiyo imetukasirisha kama hii system haifanyi vizuri si iondolewe na turudi kwa 8 4 4,” a parent, Jackson Kwambai said.

Reuben Kipchumba, another parent, added: “Tunaona kizazi kijacho kikiangamia na kukosa mwelekeo kwa masomo yao. Kwa hivo serikali ifanye jukumu na kuhakikisha infrastucture yote inawekwa vile inatakikana ili kuboresha masomo ya hawa wanafunzi.’

The parents decried the state of the school's infrastructure blaming the school management and the county government's education department for laxity.

“Tumekuwa na shida kwa sababu shule management imekuwa chini hata ukiangalia madarasa si madarasa yanayo stahili,” Jennifer Keter stated.

“Stima hata imekatwa kwa sababu hizo pesa hazipeanwi na isipofanywa hivo hawa watoto wetu wanafanyaje preps jioni na ukiangalia madarasa ni kama ng'ombe inaishi ndani chini simiti yote imechimbika,” Martin Egesa added.

The parents want the Ministry of Education to intervene to enable their children to go back to class like any other JSS pupil in the country.

The parents have closed down the school until all JSS requirements of books, teachers and infrastructure are put in place or as they say; their children are taken back to the 8-4-4 system.

The fate of 350 pupils in this school that was started in 1988 hangs in the balance.