Govt Orders Closure Of 348 Boarding Schools [FULL LIST]

This was announced by Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang in a letter to all Regional, County and Sub-County Directors of Education.

Viral Tea Ke Writer Viral Tea Ke Writer
Dec 2, 2024 - 17:15 Updated: Dec 2, 2024 - 18:05
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Govt Orders Closure Of 348 Boarding Schools [FULL LIST]
Photo of Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang. /FILE

The Ministry of Education has directed that the boarding sections of 348 primary schools across the country be closed down.

This was announced by Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang in a letter to all Regional, County and Sub-County Directors of Education. This followed an assessment exercise to establish the status of compliance with safety standards for all boarding primary schools in the country which was carried out in the months of September and October 2024.

"The assessment established that some institutions grossly contravened the provisions of the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya (2008). Further, they did not adhere to the standards as prescribed in the Registration Guidelines for Basic Education Institutions (2021)," the letter dated November 27, 2024 read in part.

"A total of Three Hundred and Forty Eighty (348) schools of those assessed were consequently NOT approved to host boarding learners."

Kipsang thus instructed the directors to close down the boarding sections of all schools within their jurisdiction that were not approved. The PS however allowed room for their re-opening under the condition that they are subjected to a re-registration process.

"The purpose of this circular therefore is to direct you to close down the boarding sections of all schools within your jurisdiction that were not approved as per the attached list," he added.

"Re-opening of the boarding sections should strictly be upon a re-registration process. You are required to ensure that affected parents are informed in good time for them to make alternative arrangements for their children."

The directive comes after Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba revealed that a nationwide mandatory inspection exercise targeting all schools across the country in the wake of rampant school fires recently reported, which was carried out in phases found that 348 schools were deemed non-compliant. As a result, they will be converted to day schools starting January 2025.

Furthermore, the Ministry revealed that major concerns pointed out during the exercise include dormitory safety, sanitation, fire equipment maintenance, and overall learner welfare.

List Of Schools Affected By Directive

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