Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Migos Ogamba recently faced intense scrutiny from the Senate Committee on Education regarding the controversial directive to close the boarding sections of 348 primary schools across Kenya. This order was issued after an assessment found that these schools were in violation of government safety regulations meant to ensure the well-being of students.
The Ministry of Education mandated the closure after a compliance audit conducted in September and October 2024, which uncovered significant safety lapses at several institutions. According to Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang, the audit revealed that numerous schools failed to meet the prescribed safety standards as outlined in the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya (2008), as well as the Registration Guidelines for Basic Education Institutions (2021). Some of the flagged schools were found not to have received approval to host boarding learners due to these lapses.
On November 27, 2024, Kipsang issued a circular instructing regional, county, and sub-county education directors to ensure that the affected schools would not reopen their boarding sections when schools resumed in January 2025 for Term 1. The directive, aimed at addressing safety concerns, caused an uproar among some education stakeholders, with many claiming they were not properly informed of the process.
At a Senate Committee on Education session on December 5, 2024, CS Ogamba defended the decision, emphasizing that all the affected schools had been duly notified and given clear instructions to either improve their safety measures or face closure. He explained that the Ministry had provided each boarding school with a detailed safety audit manual, which was used as the basis for the decision. Ogamba stated that the 348 schools affected by the closure had been specifically identified following an individual assessment of their compliance with the required safety standards.
“There is a safety manual that each boarding school needs to adhere to, and this is the manual that was used to audit to ensure that they met the requirements,” CS Ogamba clarified during the session. “Those that did not meet the requirements were informed of the closure individually based on the audit report, and what is critical for us is to know that our officers did not close the school boarding sections that met the requirement.”
The closure of the boarding sections stems from safety concerns that have arisen in the wake of previous tragic incidents, most notably the Hillside Endarasha Academy fire in Nyeri that claimed the lives of 21 pupils in early 2024. This tragic event prompted the Ministry of Education to undertake a nationwide assessment of safety measures in schools to prevent such disasters from recurring.
The audit report identified several key safety violations, including overcrowded dormitories with triple-decker beds instead of the prescribed double-deckers, and windows and doors that failed to meet basic safety standards, such as not opening from the outside in case of an emergency. These shortcomings were deemed unacceptable, prompting the directive for closure.
While some schools expressed frustration over the timing of the directive, with accusations of insufficient communication, Ogamba assured the committee that concerns raised by education stakeholders would be addressed after further inspections. The Ministry plans to send county quality assurance officers to re-evaluate the schools that have made the necessary improvements and are now in compliance with safety standards.
“As we resume in January, schools that have not met the safety audit requirements will not be allowed to run their boarding sections,” Ogamba warned. However, he also assured that any schools that have addressed the issues raised during the audit will be allowed to reopen their boarding facilities.
In response to concerns about fairness, the CS explained that the Ministry is committed to ensuring that no school is unfairly penalized, provided they meet the safety standards required by the government. The Ministry will continue to support schools in their efforts to meet these requirements and ensure the safety of all students.
This directive underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing student safety in the wake of past tragedies and ensuring that schools comply with established standards. The closure of these boarding sections has sparked debate, but the Ministry’s stance remains firm: safety is paramount, and non-compliance will not be tolerated.
