Education CS Fred Matiang'i. [Photo/courtesy]
The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Dr. Fred Matiang’i has said that the government will not tolerate bullying of students in schools.
He said schools should create a favorable environment for learning where students are happy and confident individuals.
“There is no one we cannot deal with when it comes to the safety of our children in schools,” Dr. Matiang’i said.
He was speaking moments after commissioning three projects at Alliance High School yesterday. He was flanked by the Acting Director General, Mr. Robert Masese, and the Director for Quality Assurance and Standards, Mr. Pius Mutisya, the Chairman of the schools Board of Management, Mr. Sammy Muita and the Principal of the school, Mr. William Mwangi and the Chairman of the National Parents Association of Kenya, Mr. David Maiyo.
The government has spent Shs.140million to build a 432 bed capacity dormitory, six classrooms and the extension of the dining hall to take care of the increased enrollment of students at the school.
Dr. Matiang’i hailed Alliance High School was one of the defining landmarks in the provision of basic education in the country.
“We have an obligation to ensure the best learning environment is provided to these young Kenyans,” Dr. Matiang’i said, noting that the school should look forward and learn from experiences it has had to improve the environment in which children learn.
He challenged managers of educational institutions to raise children in a responsible manner, saying the education they give students should produce whole rounded children not just smart kids.
He said the government will establish chaplaincy in all secondary schools to meet the pastoral needs of the students.
Dr. Matiang’i, however, challenged students to be disciplined and provide care and mentorship to young students and those newly enrolled in schools.
“Mentor your brother. Don’t bully them,” the CS implored, saying they cannot amount to anything if they are not disciplined children.
He said the government had disbursed Shs.6billion to construct over 2000 new classrooms, 1000 science laboratories and 1,000 ablution blocks in 2,700 secondary schools.
He said the infrastructure improvements was part of the program of 100% transition the government was undertaking to upgrade and expand facilities in secondary school to accommodate more students in an enabling environment.