Mp Push for Ban on Primary Boarding Schools After Endarasha Fire Tragedy
Dagoreti North MP Beatrice Elachi has sparked a critical debate on the future of boarding primary schools in Kenya following the tragic incident at Hillside Endarasha Academy. On Monday, Elachi proposed the abolition of primary boarding schools, arguing that young children are better cared for by their parents until they reach high school.
This call comes in the wake of the heartbreaking deaths of several young students in a dormitory fire at Endarasha Academy.
“No primary school should be a boarding institution. Let parents take care of their children till they reach high school,” Elachi asserted, pointing out that the children who perished at Endarasha Academy were too young to escape the fire on their own.
The lawmaker expressed concerns that the immediate care needed by children at such a young age might be lacking in boarding schools, thereby increasing the risk of such tragedies.
Elachi further emphasized the role of parents in safeguarding their children, urging them to stop relinquishing their responsibilities to schools. “Children at Endarasha Academy could not take care of themselves, indicating that parents and teachers had a role to play in preventing the tragedy,” she stated.
The MP also questioned the level of supervision at the school, particularly highlighting the absence of a matron or a responsible adult to look after the boys in the dormitory. “Did they have a matron? Boys need a lot of support and they needed to have someone looking after them,” Elachi remarked, pointing out that boys tend to internalize their issues more than girls, which can lead to dire consequences if not adequately addressed.
Elachi speculated that the children might have succumbed to smoke inhalation during the fire, underscoring the need for close supervision in such environments. “These children were asleep. It means they were choked by the smoke, and it was not easy for them to escape,” she added.
While Elachi’s call to abolish primary boarding schools has garnered support from some quarters, it has also reignited a contentious debate.
The Ministry of Education, which had previously considered scrapping boarding schools, backtracked on the proposal in 2023, citing the importance of these institutions, particularly for parents in nomadic areas.
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Mp Push for Ban on Primary Boarding Schools After Endarasha Fire Tragedy
