2016-08-17 17:38:00

Kenya: Arson in schools puzzle Catholic School Heads


The recent wave of unrest that has seen the burning of over 100 schools resulting in the destruction of property across Kenya are a scheme by well-organised cartels that seek to destabilise and disrupt learning in secondary schools across the country, principals of Catholic-sponsored schools have said.

The principals who recently met during the annual Conference for Principals of Catholic-sponsored Schools at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) Nairobi exchanged experiences as they tried to come to terms with the unprecedented number schools and dormitories torched, in Kenya.

The School Heads explained that investigations were pointing to some radicalised vulnerable children funded to torch school dormitories and buildings.  Non-teaching staff members of schools were also said to be colluding with students to frustrate school principals. Then there are student strikes orchestrated due to fear of taking exams. These are some of the reasons advanced by the Catholic school authorities facing the challenge of fires deliberately started in schools. Government as well as Church schools have been targetted.

Addressing over 1000 Catholic principals and education secretaries, the Bishop of Kitui, Anthony Muheria challenged secondary school principals to rise to the task and delve deeper into understanding the world of the young people, if the scourge of fires and student strikes is to be purged.

Bishop Muheria further called on the school principals to understand the underlying problems that their students face. He encouraged the heads to instil in the learners solid moral values. Students need to be inspired with talks that motivate them towards participation in community service, he said. Teachers in Catholic schools also need mentorship projects that seek to help children reject drugs, Bishop Muheria advised.

The conference whose theme is” ‘Catholic schools - a place to Encounter Jesus Christ, the compassionate teacher” aims at covering issues such as the integration of Gospel values in education, teacher-management, Catholic Identity, examination integrity and the ongoing education reforms.

The three-day conference running from 16 to 18 August 2016 is being hosted by The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (KCCB) Commission for Education and Religious Education. It is in line with the Jubilee year of Mercy being marked by the universal church.

(By Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications in Nairobi)

Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va








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