Schools In Mandera May Drop Some Subjects As They Lack Qualified Teachers

Schools in Mandera County may have to drop several subjects due to lack of qualified teachers to handle them. This follows a boycott of work by some teachers due to insecurity in the north eastern region.

Briefing journalists Wednesday in his office in Mandera Town, Mr Ismael Barrow, the County Education Director, said many teachers, including those recently recruited, have not reported to their work stations, affecting the teaching of a number of subjects.

“The most affected are secondary schools where the students have no teachers for home science, computer studies and practical subjects.

“Some schools like Moi Girls have dropped the subjects already,” said Mr Barrow. Moi Girls is one of the two national schools in the county, the other one being Mandera Boys.

Despite having engaged Form Four leavers to fill the gap, students are not getting quality teaching and chances of them performing dismally in the national examination were high, he added.

“I doubt if our students will take practicals in the end of the year examinations.

“The students are on their own, helping one another without proper guidance from teachers,” said Mr Barrow.

He said primary schools received a few teachers but those along the Kenya-Somalia border have remained without teachers due to insecurity.

“Schools along the Kenya-Somalia border mostly in Omar Jilo, Fino, Arabia, Lafey and Alungu are the most affected as teachers have completely deserted the areas.

“Only the headteachers and one or two Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers are there,” he lamented.

He said the insecurity experienced along the border towns has made it difficult for the educational officers to carry out their duties.

He called on the government to secure the areas for education to thrive.

He revealed that the process of registering non-Kenyan students was underway and that the exact figure will be known in a week’s time.

“We are now registering all non-Kenyan students in our 202 primary and 47 secondary schools but we have stopped further enrollment as directed by the Ministry of Education,” said Mr Barrow.

Many non-Kenyans in the education system have used the school certificates in obtaining identification cards enabling them to travel to any part of the country where some are suspected to engage in terror activities.

Reference : www.nation.co.ke