Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok on Thursday, May 14 convened a virtual meeting with high school principals and regional and county education officials to address cases of schools’ unrest across the country.
The meeting, that was also attended by sub-county education officials and senior officers from the headquarters, was convened to identify urgent interventions to secure uninterrupted learning during the current term.
The PS noted the second term is traditionally prone to unrest and urged the officers to be more proactive in addressing potential causes of such incidents.
“We are aware of incidences of unrest in some of our schools which have unfortunately interfered with smooth learning and the closure of some institutions. We must be on the lookout for the triggers to effectively preempt them.”
During the meeting, grassroots-based officers briefed the PS on the current situation in their jurisdictions and their experiences in handling emerging challenges affecting learning institutions.
They attributed the unrest to weak communication channels between students and the schools’ management, failure to engage learners when making decisions, harsh disciplinary practices and exams-related pressure.
Other identified causes were poor learning environment, peer influence, drug and substance abuse, social media influence and ineffective guidance and counseling.
The PS urged school managers to adopt and prioritize student-centered approaches in addressing learners grievances.
“Schools must strengthen communication channels between students, teachers, parents, and administrators to promote trust, openness, and timely resolution of concerns.”
The PS further encouraged institutions to involve learners in decision-making processes to foster responsibility and a sense of belonging among students.
On discipline management, the PS called for humane and corrective approaches while discouraging punitive measures that may escalate tensions within schools.
“Discipline should be fair, supportive, and corrective. Schools must create environments where learners feel heard, respected, and supported.”
The meeting also rooted for the strengthening of guidance and counseling departments to provide psychosocial support and mentorship to learners facing academic and emotional pressures.
It challenged schools administrators to improve student welfare, intensify sensitization against drug and substance abuse, and promote responsible use of social media through digital literacy initiatives.
The PS also appealed for all stakeholders’ support in nurturing disciplined, safe, inclusive, and friendly learning institutions.
