A section of retired teachers from Nyamira County have proposed a five-year jail term without the option of a fine to students found guilty of burning schools.
Besides, the teachers have asked the courts to charge the students if found guilty, with an additional offence of attempted murder of their colleagues.
Addressing journalists at a Nyamira hotel Thursday, the teachers differed with Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s position that effectively bars such students from re-admission to other schools unless they have been cleared by county education boards saying it was unlikely to curb the unrest.
Speaking on their behalf, Alfred Moturi, however, said the introduction of corporal punishment was not the solution but instead proposed that counselling and guidance departments in schools be strengthened.
“Through these sessions, teachers are able to understand the psychology of the students and offer the necessary guidance to stem unrest as have been witnessed in the country of late”, he said.
They also challenged parents to be in the forefront in instilling good morals in their children saying they have abdicated their parental roles.
Nyamira County is among areas in the country that have been hard hit by the devastating spate of school fires that has led to a near paralysis of learning in four top high schools.