By Tobias Ogutu
Every child in Kenya has the right to a quality education. Without proper education, children become vulnerable and ill-equipped for various roles in society as they grow older. In Kenya, quality education is primarily provided in schools. The government, through the Ministry of Education, is responsible for constructing schools and equipping them with the necessary resources for effective learning. While some schools in Kenya have the basic infrastructure and tools for education, others lack even the most fundamental facilities. St. Mark Nyabera and Kassagam Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Kisumu East have been neglected for many decades.
S.T. Mark Nyabera and Kassagam Primary and Junior Secondary Schools are two neighboring educational institutions located in the Nyalenda A ward. These schools have been in operation for over 50 years. They are the only public learning facilities in this ward. The majority of residents in Nyalenda A ward belong to low-income households, which leads their children to attend public schools. Consequently, the student population at S.T. Mark Nyabera and Kassagam Schools has become so overwhelming that the available infrastructure and educational resources are insufficient to accommodate them. This issue is well-known to the Ministry of Education and the area Member of Parliament (MP), who is responsible for overseeing the implementation of educational programs; however, both have neglected to address the challenges faced by these two schools.
I was a student at S.T. Mark Nyabera Primary School from 2002 to 2006. If the condition of the school and its neighboring institution was poor at that time, it has since deteriorated further. Currently, the two neighboring schools lack a distinct fence, allowing roaming animals and herdsmen to wander freely within the school compound at any time of day. Under these circumstances, the school environment is not conducive to learning. Concerned citizens have taken photographs of the school and submitted them to the Ministry of Education in the county, the Member of Parliament, and other relevant authorities, but for over two decades, no action has been taken.
The schools experience flooding during the rainy season, disrupting learning, and this issue has persisted even during our time. Each time flooding occurs, the media, the Ministry of Education, the Member of Parliament (MP), and various stakeholders are present and make promises; however, none have been fulfilled to date. Currently, the classrooms are old and dilapidated, resembling Fort Jesus. The furniture is outdated, broken, and insufficient, while the walls are cracked. Despite these issues, the relevant authorities have yet to take action, even after photos of the two schools have gone viral on social media. It is disheartening that the area’s MP considered using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to build a new police station, yet overlooked the two schools. In a region where insecurity is not a significant concern, why prioritize a police station over a school?
It is high time for the Ministry of Education to fulfill its mandate to the two neighboring schools that educate approximately one thousand six hundred students. The relevant authorities should not forget that it is through education that individuals become valuable members of society. Why, then, do they overlook these important assets?
