The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has criticized the government in the wake of the Hillside Endarasha Academy fire tragedy, which claimed 17 lives and left 14 pupils injured. During a press briefing on Friday, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori expressed sorrow over the loss of the pupils and emphasized the need for strict adherence to safety measures in schools.
Misori pointed out a similar incident at Precious Talents Academy less than five years ago, where eight pupils died and 64 others were injured when a building collapsed. He stressed that safety measures recommended to the then Education Cabinet Secretary following that tragedy were never implemented.
Misori accused the government, particularly the Ministry of Education, of neglecting the enforcement of policies outlined in the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya, 2018.
“While we mourn, we appeal to the government to take serious measures to assure safety in our schools and prevent such painful events in future. Almost five years ago, the country faced a similar tragedy at Precious Talents Academy. KUPPET initiated a study to establish the level of compliance with school safety policies and recommend long-lasting solutions,” said Misori.
“The answer to these disasters is known. Schools must be made to comply with safety policies under the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya, 2018. This document contains guidelines on the safety of learners and all members of school communities.”
The union leader emphasized key safety criteria outlined in the Safety Standards Manual, including the quality of building materials, classroom sizes, window dimensions, ventilation, and the number of students per space. To enhance student safety, KUPPET had proposed a review and harmonization of all policies and guidelines related to safety, security, and disaster management within the education sector.
Among the measures KUPPET advocated for were increased budget allocations for school safety and incorporating safety training into the curriculum for trainee teachers in colleges, as well as for teachers already in the field.
Despite presenting these recommendations, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori noted, “These findings, which supplemented the extensive work on school safety conducted by the Directorate of Quality Assurance, were shared with the Cabinet Secretary for action.”
Additionally, Misori called on the nation to “rethink the role of boarding schools in our education system.”
“School Safety is an integral and indispensable component of the teaching and learning process. Indeed, no meaningful teaching and learning can take place in an environment that is unsafe and insecure to learners, teachers and school communities. It is, therefore, important that educational stakeholders foster a safe and secure school environment,” he stated.
