A section of parents in Kisumu County have challenged the government to lift the ban on extra tuition as a way of improving performance in rural schools.
Speaking to this writer on the phone on Thursday, the parents said the government should allow schools in rural areas to conduct extra classes early in the morning and during the weekend.
The parents said many pupils in Kisumu’s peri-urban and rural settlements performed poorly in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams whose results were announced by Education minister Fred Matiang'i last week.
“While pupils in towns broke into song and dance to celebrate the results, ours in the villages hid because they were not only ashamed but also shocked,” said John Anyango, a parent in Chemelil.
“In most cases, schools in rural areas do not complete the syllabus before the national exams while their fellows do not only finish but also find ample time for revision,” he said.
Jane Anyango said the government should act in fairness and lift the ban on extra classes so that schools in the rural areas can also get time to prepare well for their exams.
“Despite the government’s attempts to connect rural schools with electricity, they are still performing poorly. It could be that the learners do not get enough time to study. It will be fair if the restriction is lifted,” argued Anyango , a resident in Arina estate.