The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) laid blame on the government for the devastating fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy, which claimed the lives of 17 pupils and left 14 others injured. The tragedy has reignited concerns over school safety in Kenya, with KUPPET urging immediate and robust measures to prevent such disasters in the future.
KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori, addressing the media, expressed profound grief over the loss of young lives and emphasized the urgent need for adherence to safety regulations in schools. He recalled a similar catastrophe at Precious Talents Academy less than five years ago, where a building collapse resulted in the deaths of eight students and injuries to 64 others. Despite recommendations for improved safety measures following that incident, Misori criticized the government for failing to implement the proposed changes.
“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,” Misori stated. “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.”
The study revealed significant lapses in the enforcement of safety policies outlined in the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya, 2018. This manual provides detailed guidelines on various safety aspects, including building materials, classroom sizes, window dimensions, ventilation, and student density per classroom.
Misori pointed out that these guidelines were designed to ensure the safety of learners and school staff, but the implementation has been lackluster. He criticized the government for not taking sufficient action based on the findings of KUPPET’s study and the recommendations shared with the then Education Cabinet Secretary.
Among the measures proposed by KUPPET were a comprehensive review and harmonization of all policy instruments and guidelines related to safety, security, and disaster management in the education sector. The union had also advocated for increased funding to improve safety infrastructure in schools and for training programs focused on safety for trainee teachers and those already in service.
Despite these efforts, Misori highlighted that the promised improvements had not materialized. “These findings, which supplemented the huge work on school safety conducted by the Directorate of Quality Assurance, were shared with the Cabinet Secretary for action,” he said, expressing frustration over the inaction.
In light of the recent tragedy, KUPPET has called for a re-evaluation of the role and safety of boarding schools within the education system. Misori argued that no meaningful teaching and learning can occur in an environment that is unsafe. He stressed the need for educational stakeholders to foster a secure and safe environment for all members of the school community.
“School safety is an integral and indispensable component of the teaching and learning process,” Misori emphasized. “It is, therefore, important that educational stakeholders foster a safe and secure school environment.”
The Hillside Endarasha Academy fire tragedy has underscored the critical need for stringent safety measures and their implementation across all educational institutions. The call from KUPPET for a comprehensive review and enhancement of school safety protocols serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities of both the government and educational administrators to ensure the protection of students and staff.
As Kenya grapples with the aftermath of this heartbreaking event, the government’s response and actions in the coming days will be closely scrutinized. The focus now shifts to preventing further tragedies and ensuring that schools across the country meet the highest safety standards to safeguard the future of Kenya’s youth.
