Abstract: Arson attacks in secondary schools in Kenya are slowly beginning to get institutionalized thus causing a lot of concern amongst the affected students and stakeholders. The causes of these attacks are varied and unclear. This paper presents a summary of findings of a study in seven randomly selected Counties whose key objective among others was to examine the underlying causes of these school arson attacks and draw policy implications on education in Kenya based on the findings. The study was founded on the conflict and consensus theories. A sample of 1850 respondents: 50 head teachers, 300 teachers, 1000 pupils and 500 parents participated in the study. Questionnaires, interviews, observations and focus group discussions were used as research instruments to generate data. The obtained data was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Some of the findings were that the school dormitories were the major targets of the arson attacks. The reasons advanced by the respondents for such attacks were varied although most of them pointed at five main causes: students’ open dislike for boarding and its facilities; high-handedness of school administrators; fear for sitting for examinations; students perceived second term as too long; inadequate food at school and finally medias’ sensational reporting of school arson attacks. The study concludes that the measures undertaken by the authorities were neither pertinent nor exhaustive enough to forestall future arson attacks. In this regard, a calm situation which emerges after the resumption of classes appears deceptive since students wait for the most opportune time to attack. The following recommendations which were based on the findings and have a bearing on policy were made : Newly appointed principals to understudy senior and successful colleagues; delink and privatize boarding facilities; Restructure the school calendar to be more friendly to students; infuse practical skills and internship to university curriculum; medias’ sensational reporting on school strikes or arson need to be toned down; quantity and quality of food for students to be increase ;Quality Assurance and Standard’s department in the MoE to intensify school supervision for quality education to be enhanced; Principals to be retooled on the management and administrative skills; police stations to be constructed near learning institutions as a deterrent strategy; increasing parental and students’ involvement in school management and employment of guidance and counseling teachers for addressing students’ concerns.
Keywords: Arson attacks, secondary schools, destruction of property, school stakeholders, supervision, school management.
Title: Escalation of Arson Attacks in Secondary Schools and Policy Implications for Education in Kenya
Author: Prof. Kisilu Kombo, Naom K. Ondicho, Annah Jepketer
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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