The government on Wednesday made five new guidelines in a move to ensure the safety of learners and avert the recently rising incidents of sexual violation in schools.
In a circular released by the Teachers ServiceCommission (TSC) Chief Executive NancyMacharia, school heads are now required to ensure that students are accompanied by at least one registered teacher of the same gender.
Besides, TSC which is also the employer directed that schools should stop incorporating registered teachers or those deregistered by the commission in school programs.
The directive further indicated that unregistered and deregistered teachers should equally not be incorporated in co-curricular activities.
The new order covers all programs including teaching, handling, managing, coaching, supervising and/or assisting of pupils/learners. School managers are also directed to ensure that day scholars are released early enough to reach their homes by 6 pm while boarding schools programs are required to end by 9 pm.
The circular is addressed to all teachers and copied to the Education Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary, Kenya National Union of Teachers, and the Kenya Union of Post PrimaryEducation Teachers.
The recent rape incidents at Moi Girls School in Nairobi and Maasai Girls School in Narok may have informed the need for the new measures.
Over 700 girls from Maasai Girls School went on a rampage on protesting alleged molestation by a male teacher. Moi Girls' High School, on the other hand, was closed down on indefinitely on June 3 after a rape incident which took place in the institution.