The school fire incidences in the country at the moment has reached a crisis level. Schools have adapted to burning down school property with an aim of attracting the attention of the school administration and also defying other scheduled school programs.
From Friday 15, July, at least five schools have been torched with reasons behind the arson attack minimal.
In Embu county, Embu high school was razed down while St Teresa’s Bikeke girls in Kitale, Itierio boys high school in Kisii, St Angelic girls Meru and Tuilwet high school in Kericho County were all destroyed in school fires believed to have been ignited by students.
But why are the schools still going up in flames even after the Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i ordered the investigation into the fires?
It has been months since the fire incidence started and it is very astonishing to have at least 10 schools go up in flames less than one month.
The shifting of blames to students, teachers, society and school heads will do nothing to quell the menace. The students who are at the grass-root levels in schools should be engaged in discussions to help come up with solutions to these fires. Ignoring their grievances and wants will only spearhead the recurrence of these fires.
All education stakeholders in the country should seat down and analyse the situation the education sector is currently undergoing. The waking up to school fire incidences has become a routine that if not quelled then the education system in the country will lose its meaning.
The whole education ministry should stop demonising students and should instead work with them and help come up with a long lasting solution.