Arson in public schools proved a common practice during last year’s third term. It resulted to the torching of dormitories of schools by students which in return resulted to destruction of properties worth millions of Kenyan shillings.
It was absurd that the previous weekend proved to be a dark weekend in which dormitories of four schools were allegedly torched down, some under unclear circumstances as investigations are still ongoing.
The schools that were greatly affected included: Moi Girls High School in Kibra, Sigoti Girls High School in Nyakach Kisumu County, Chuka Boys High school in Tharaka-Nithi County and Vitale HGM primary school in Makueni County.
Burning of dormitories to a great extent damages the reputation of boarding schools. It makes students who might have preferred to pursue secondary school education in boarding schools to have a totally different perception that they are unsafe and therefore not fit to host students.
To bring back the perception that boarding schools are safe for students, the following three groups need to act fast since it is sad for a student to be admitted in a boarding school and then die in a dormitory. As part of their actions they need to embrace the following measures:
The school administrators should strive to solve the complaints or issues raised by students so that the complaints do not escalate to an unimaginable extent that saw numerous cases of arson being reported. School Policies and programs that is to be implemented should be friendly and even make students to feel comfortable while within these learning institutions.
The school administration should come up with a strong guidance and counseling department so that distressed students can be comforted emotionally and psychologically. Some students who are emotionally disturbed might have evil plans that in the end cause destruction. In the case for Moi Girls High School it was reported by daily nation that there was a girl who was mentally disturbed and she even harbored such plans of setting a dormitory on fire
All boarding schools should invest in fire extinguishing gadgets. This will prevent the spread of fire and in return the extent of damage that would have been caused had the fire not been contained.
The government through the ministry of education should craft laws that treat students who engage in arson attacks as criminals and even a hefty fine should be included. This will instill fear in them that they will not even think about burning their own schools or dormitories. The ministry also needs to craft friendly policies that directly affect the lives of the students so that they can feel at ease.
The students should always seek alternative reaction mechanism. Whenever they feel uncomfortable or aggrieved with a given policy, they should air them in a more socially accepted way. In each institution there is always a procedure of reporting ones dissatisfaction. Destruction of property is not an option. In fact in the strongest terms possible it can be attributed to reaction by the socially challenged persons.