Endarasha Academy tragedy: School set to reopen as management given tough guidelines

Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri is set to be reopened as soon as the management conforms to the Ministry of Education guidelines on school infrastructure.

The committee that was formed after the fire tragedy at the school has recommended a reduction in the number of boarders in order to allow decongestion. All timber structures must be done away with, and all boarding requirements met before the school reopens.

Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations who have been stationed at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri after the fire tragedy to gather information on the cause of the fire have since handed over the school to the board of management for reconstruction.

According to the acting regional commissioner for the Central Region, Pius Murugu, the school will be reopened after it conforms to the Ministry of Education's requirements.

"At the moment, what is happening is that all the evidence which has been collected by the DCI has now gone for analysis, and within the shortest time possible, they should be able to bring out a report," said Murugu.

According to the Ministry of Education, the beds in the dormitories should have at least 1.2 meters between them, while the corridor should not be less than 2 meters wide. The doorways of the dormitories should be at least 5 feet wide and should open outwards. Each dormitory should have two doors at each end, and an additional one in the middle, clearly labeled emergency exit.

The ministry standards also dictate that each dorm must be fitted with a fire extinguisher placed at the exit, alongside fire alarms. Besides outlining regulations, spot checks must be undertaken by teachers and the administration before learners retire to bed. The doors must be closed from inside, among other requirements.

The regional commissioner says the school may reopen in two weeks if they fulfil the requirements.

"By next week, we shall be able to conclude the burial arrangements for everybody so that, after one week, we shall be able to see how the school will be reopened afresh, of course in consultation with the parents and stakeholders involved in the opening," added Murugu.

The regional commissioner says priority will be given to junior secondary school pupils who will be sitting for their KNEC KPSEA examinations in the next few weeks. He added that the new buildings that are meant to be occupied by Grade 9 pupils next year will be used, even as arrangements are made to have school buses ferry learners in order to decongest the school.

"The deputy county commissioner who is here, has her team on the ground, and that team will be able to see the timelines for the exams so that as soon as possible those KPSEA candidates should be able to return to school and continue with normal learning," he added.

A requiem mass for the departed souls will be conducted next week. The government has pledged to foot all the burial expenses and support all the affected learners who lost their belongings.