Kisii schools Teachers idle for lack of learners.
Schools are in danger of closing down in Kisii County due to fall in enrollment. Nchoro and Karungu Secondary Schools in South Mugirango Constituency are the most hit.
Deputy Principal Geoffrey Monyancha said that there are only 63 students enrolled at Karungu Secondary School. These includes 12 at Form 1, 15 at Form 2, 15 at Form 3, and 21 at Form 4.
The principal highlighted the Ministry of Education‘s limited capitation funding as the main reason for the low enrollment. This causes most of the pupils to choose schools with better facilities in turn.
Monyancha stressed that because capitation payments are closely correlated with student enrollment, it is crucial that parents support their neighborhood schools rather than giving preference to institutions with better facilities. Due to low enrollment when it reopened, the County Education Board (CEB) temporarily closed the school during the first term.
In response to parental requests, the school reopened with just 50 children and nine teachers selected by Teachers Service Commission.
List of Kisii schools where teachers are idle due to a lack of students
Prof. Henry Onderi, the chairman of the CEB, denounced the inefficient teacher-to-student ratio as a poor use of human resources. It was still noted that idle teachers are still receiving government compensation. Parents were also blamed by Onderi for enrolling their kids in nearby schools rather than supporting the neighborhood school.
According to Prof. Onderi, they temporarily reopened the school so that parents could consult with them and provide their support.
But it appears that their efforts were in vain. The parents raised threats of a second shutdown and the transfer of the remaining students to other institutions.
Parents who are worried claim that a permanent closure would be very difficult on local pupils because they would have to travel far to attend nearby schools. Unfortunately, they’re just a small portion compared to the rest.
They have urged the local MP, Sylivanus Osoro, to use National Government Constituency Development Funds to improve these schools’ facilities.
Kisii schools Teachers idle for lack of learners.
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