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18 schools closed over
skirmishes
Published on January 28, 2008, 12:00 am
Vitalis Kimutai and Harold Ayodo
Eighteen schools have been closed down in Trans Mara District due
to post-election violence.
As a result, 6,450 pupils and 117 teachers have deserted the
learning institutions at Birar and Kirindoni divisions due to
insecurity.
The most affected is Ainamoi Primary School in Kirindoni which has
become a refugee camp for 28 displaced families.
On Sunday, The Standard found at least 200 people taking refuge in
the classrooms.
"Our houses were torched by raiders who struck in broad daylight
and we sought sanctuary here. We lost everything as a result of
the violence," said Mr Anthony Ruto.
Mr Joseph Kitur, the Trans Mara Kenya National Union of Teachers
(Knut) secretary, called on the Government to restore security to
enable learning to resume.
"It is unfortunate that pupils and teachers have kept away from
schools over matters that would otherwise have been easily
resolved," Kitur said.
Elsewhere, teachers’ unions have appealed to their 9,000 members
in Nyanza to report to schools today after the Government’s
security assurance.
Nyanza PC, Mr Paul Olando, told The Standard that adequate
security would be provided to learning institutions.
The Nyanza Provincial Director of Education (PDE), Mr Geoffrey
Cherongis, said Maseno School was the only institution that
re-opened as scheduled on January 14.
Cherongis, however, would not say what awaits teachers in the 900
Nyanza schools who do not heed the call.
"There are teachers who requested my office for transfers…we want
to know how many teachers will report to schools today before we
think of the next step," the PDE said.
The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association Vice-Chairman, Mr
John Awiti, called on head teachers to re-open the institutions
today.
"Security was our deepest concern…let’s all re-open and catch up
with the syllabus as time is running out," Awiti, who is also the
principal of St Mary’s School, Yala, said.
Awiti, however, raised concerns over teachers who are ‘non-resident’,
saying they were hesitant to report to schools.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (Kuppet) and Knut
cautioned teachers against resuming duty if insecurity persisted.
Kuppet Secretary-General, Mr Wanyonyi Buteyo, said the union
supported the Government’s calls and the ODM top brass to re-open
institutions.
"We want to believe that the security assured by the Government
would be in place…we appeal to teachers to report to their work
stations," Buteyo said.
Nyanza Knut Chairman, Mr Geoffrey Mogire, and secretary Mr Tom
Olilo, concurred with Buteyo, but said teachers would go back home
if threatened.
"Villagers threatened principals with arson if they risked
re-opening schools before the political impasse was resolved,"
Mogire said.
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