Parents want school re-opening pushed forward over flooding.
In light of the continuous, intense rains, parents are pleading with the administration to delay the start of the second term of school.
According to the National Parents Association, floodwaters have damaged tens of homes and educational facilities, endangering students.
The rains and flooding, according to the association’s Secretary-General Eskimos Kobia, had an impact on tens of schools nationwide.
For the protection of the children and instructors, Kobia urged the administration to examine the number of schools impacted by the severe rains and modify the start and end dates.
Speaking on Sunday in Naivasha, Kobia mentioned that certain schools are acting as camps for flood-displaced families.
According to Kobia, the rains caused key routes, mostly in rural areas, to close, endangering the lives of the students even more.
“It’s not just about getting schools back up and running again; it’s also about how safe it is for kids to get from home to school,” he stated.
Kobia continued, stating that the association’s preliminary evaluation had shown that the majority of impacted families had misplaced their school supplies and uniforms.
He continued by saying that in some of the impacted schools, instructional materials had been washed away and walls and classrooms had collapsed, rendering the buildings unusable.
Floods in Budalang’i have destroyed at least 10 primary schools in Busia County, and several more are now acting as makeshift camps for families that have been forced to evacuate.
After intense downpours, six villages—including well-known gathering places like Mau Mau Market and crucial establishments like pharmacies—now lie underwater, including Rukala, Makhoma, and Sigomere.
Some parents said that the administration of schools that have been marooned has not disclosed whether or not students will be going back to class.
Parent Robert Odera of Musoma Primary School, one of the impacted schools, stated that they were awaiting word from the institutions.
“We will get in touch with the head teachers so they can find out what happened to their kids, but we are unsure if they will open today.
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Hundreds of residents still make their home in schools and makeshift camps after their homes were destroyed by the yearly, violent floods that began around two months ago.
Irungu Macharia, the Western Regional Commissioner, stated on Sunday that Budalang’i is in dire need.
“The issue is that the displaced families are currently residing in many schools, but we intend to move them to temporary camps so that education can continue,” Macharia added.
He declared that not a single school in the area, not even Budalang’i, would delay its commencement date. “As a government, we are staying on top of the situation and working nonstop through county emergency response committees to make sure our kids report to school as earlier scheduled,” Macharia stated.
“A school like Gumbe has 1,100 households camping there; Budalang’i has 1,700 people displaced, and most schools are currently serving as evacuation centers,” he stated.
According to Macharia, the government intends to relocate the impacted residents to safer areas and is blaming the problem on Lake Victoria’s backflow of water.
Floods, in his opinion, have not harmed Vihiga, Kakamega, or Busia.
“We had a small issue in Lugari Constituency due to a river overflow, but things are under control. Similar incidents were reported in Bungoma, where the Nzoia River burst its banks and damaged crops.”
John Wabuti, the chairman of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Kakamega County, urged the government to reschedule the start of classes to allow for classroom improvements, a decrease in water levels, and rain.
He declared, “As educators, we don’t mind if the government delays the start of classes because it will benefit our kids the most.”
Education Director of Migori County, Jacob Onyiego, announced that all schools will reopen.
“According to our study, no school will continue to be closed. There has been no word yet of any school closing,” Onyiego stated.
In Nyatike, the torrential rains produced flooding that wrecked roads and stranded some schools, including Angugo Primary School and Secondary.
Last week, a powerful wind tore off one of the roofs of a school in Uriri. Among the impacted schools is Kisumu’s St. Vitalis Nanga Primary School.
The constant flooding of the school facilities hinders regular instruction.
John Adala, the head teacher of the school, notes that, in contrast to earlier, the structures are now permanently constructed.
He claims that among the main concerns are communicable diseases because, in the wake of the floods, teachers and kids are at risk of contracting typhoid and malaria.
Laban Ouko, the chairman of KUPPET in Kisii, urged parents to exercise additional caution when their children return to school for the second term.
“Unusual rains are falling across the nation. Parents need to make sure their kids arrive at school on time. Nobody should take a chance.”
Marooned communities can also be found in Tana River and Kilifi counties.
Residents of Magarini reported on Sunday that 208 acres of land were partially submerged as the river overflowed its banks in the Bombi district.
Heavy rains in Nairobi and Ukambani have raised the water volume of the Tana River, according to Magarini Community Management Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) staff under the direction of Mr. Francis Fondo.
Yesterday, people in Kilifi County’s villages of Garashi, Madunguni, Burangi, and Lango Baya moved to higher ground in order to escape a tragedy.
Ward Magarini County Assembly (MCA) member Tom Charo reported that floodwaters have stranded six towns in his district.
“Farming areas are lowlands, but villages are on higher ground.” In my area, at least 11 villages are impacted, particularly the farms, and all harvests have been washed away, the man claimed.
Floods in Tana Delta, Tana River County, have left at least 11 towns underwater, leaving hundreds of residents stuck in Tana. Residents of River Tana began to fear for their lives as the water levels continued to rise.
The impacted communities are Samicha, Kikomo, Semikaro, Odhole, Kone Masa, Nduru, Kipao, Onkolde, Oda, Ongonyo, and Chara, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society. As a result of the violent floods, over 10 cargo trucks carrying fresh goods became trapped, causing dealers to calculate their losses.
In other news, David Bore, the Executive Secretary of the Kipkelion KNUT chapter, urged the Ministry of Education to release the capitation monies on schedule.
“As schools reopen next week for the second term, we are demanding the immediate disbursement of capitation to avert a crisis in learning institutions,” Bore stated.
According to Bore, the government is aware that schools require funding to operate.
He claimed that it is unrealistic at this time for the Ministry of Education to order students not to be sent home for unpaid school fees.
According to him, administrators are pushing the government to evaluate the capitation rate upward in order to account for inflation.
Catholic archbishop Antony Muheria of Nyeri made a plea to the public to provide food, blankets, and clothing, among other supplies, to those impacted by the floods.
Although rain is a blessing, Muheria stated that the recent severe rains have produced floods, which has resulted in death and destruction.
He noted that in order to assist those impacted by the disaster, the Catholic Church has formed an account through which the general public can donate money using mobile money services.
Parents want school re-opening pushed forward over flooding
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