A major crisis could be looming in North Eastern following the transfer of non-local teachers due to insecurity posed by Al-Shabaab in the region.
Wajir County Kenyan National Union of Teachers secretary Noor Bardad said that the affected schools may close due to lack of teachers.
Mr. Bardad said that if the schools were left to close down, the children may be lured into joining the militant groups because they are idle.
The youths are a soft target for those recruiting youth into gangs and radicalization by terror groups.
He said that education plays a key role in keeping North Eastern youth from being radicalized.
Mr. Bardad urged the government to address the education crisis in the region saying that children of North Eastern, like all other children in other regions of the country, have a right to education.
“The decision to transfer teachers has paralysed education in Wajir. The situation puts most children at a greater risk of being recruited by terrorist groups. We must bear in mind that the schools are near the Somali border,” he said.
The county KNUT secretary urged the government to break the silence on the education crisis in Wajir and post teachers to the affected areas.
He said the worst affected secondary schools were Wajir Bor, Khorof, Kharar, Tarbaj, Korondile, Buna Boys, Buna Girls, Bute Girls, Bute Boys and Leheley.
TSC had transferred non -local teachers from the region following an attack on February 16 at Qarsa Primary School.