More than 100 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have joined the Ministry of Education in condemning calls for early closure of schools as a way of curbing rising arson attack cases.
The CSOs are claiming that if learning institutions are closed prematurely, the education sector will be at a great risk of collapsing.
“The schools that have experienced cases of arson are slightly over 100, roughly 120 and closing all schools on arson ground may lead to the full collapse of the sector,” said Daniel Wesonga the Chairman of Elimu Yetu Coalition on behalf of CSOs.
Instead, the organisations are calling for the actualisation of the National Association of Parents that will be first elected at the school level and later at the county and national levels.
The association will recommend further and comprehensive reforms in the education sector including meaningful participation of students in the management of their respective institutions.
“Parents have always been accountable for actions of their children, but now our question is can parents also hold us-school managements, CSO in line with education and even the ministry accountable?” Wesonga added.
Wesonga recommended that the parents association be given a chance to hold a roundtable meeting with the ministry after every two months in order to evaluate and discuss the progress of the education sector.
The CSOs were speaking to the press on Monday morning after a two-hour meeting with Education CS Dr Fred Matiangi, Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, and other education stakeholders.