Over 500,000 students have not returned to school yet -advocate.
Three weeks after educational institutions reopened for the second semester, about half a million students still have not reported to class, according to a children’s lobby.
According to a report released by Save the Children on Thursday, 497,783 students are either staying at home or in temporary shelters and are unable to return to their studies.
According to assessments conducted in collaboration with Save the Children, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Education, more than 3,781 classrooms and 18,615 restrooms are flooded, rendering them uninhabitable for students.
The issue is made worse by the closure of some routes leading to schools in places like Garissa.
In addition, the floods destroyed companies and property, making it impossible for parents to pay for schooling.
Even today, it is still evident how badly certain schools around the nation have damaged their classrooms, restrooms, and playgrounds.
Children’s cases of waterborne illnesses including cholera and diarrhea are rising.
According to Ministry of Health data, children aged one to ten have accounted for 49% of the reported cases of cholera.
This comes after sewage pipes burst in several areas of the nation, allowing feces to enter homes, playgrounds, and classrooms.
In addition, students’ mental health is still a big concern, and those who have been allowed to return to school have discovered damaged textbooks, classrooms, and restrooms.
According to a parent in Nairobi’s informal community, the consequences of the intense rains traumatize kids.
We’ve been experiencing problems sleeping since the floodwaters damaged our house. Every time it starts to rain, kids get afraid and start weeping. The teachers tell me that when it starts to rain, even the students get afraid and won’t stop until the rain stops,” Jackson remarked.
A portion of the families impacted by the flood are still being housed in makeshift shelters as they wait to be moved and resettled in safer areas.
“Children in these camps face serious protection concerns such as Sexual Gender Based Violence, loss of walking aids and wheelchairs for children with disability, lack of clean water for cooking and drinking, and psychosocial stress and trauma,” according to the lobby.
The cost of doing nothing in response to climate-related shocks, according to Mohamed Abdiladif, interim country director for Save the Children Kenya and Madagascar, is simply too high.
“We are calling for immediate public health actions to lower the risk of waterborne infections in schools with damaged sanitary facilities. Abdiladif declared, “Every child has a right to a high-quality, secure, and inclusive education.”
The government’s efforts to maintain schooling during this difficult period were applauded by the lobby.
“However, more action is needed to guarantee that all children can return to school and learn in a safe environment,” the group stated.
“We call on partners and other stakeholders to support immediate recovery interventions by supporting relevant line ministries to conduct rapid assessments to inform recovery efforts.”
In addition, the lobby requests that partners assist in maintaining restrooms, dorms, and classrooms in addition to offering substitute learning areas.
Over 500,000 students have not returned to school yet -advocate.
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