Day: May 20, 2024

School heads across the country have been instructed to admit their schools’ learners affected by floods without conditions.

Schools re-opened for the second term on May 13 following two postponements over floods that have ravaged the country since last month.

Speaking at Iftin Primary School in Garissa, where he led a tree planting exercise in schools in the area, Masini Ichwara, Director of Planning at the State Department for Basic Education, said that the same has been communicated to all head teachers across the country.

‘The schools’ heads are under instructions to accommodate all the IDP students in the nearby schools as the situation normalises. For now, let them come to school with the uniforms they have from the previous schools and start learning,’ Ichwara said.

‘We know parents have been affected by these floods, and they might not have the resources to buy new uniforms, and the extra cost will be a burden to them. That is why we call on the schools’ heads to bear with the situation, which is
temporary,’ he added.

The director said the Ministry of Education is doing everything possible to have all children go back to their respective schools disclosing that the emergency kitty that was promised by President William Ruto will go a long way in helping all learning institutions that were affected by the floods.

Ichwara, who was accompanied by senior regional education officials from North Eastern, also encouraged the school heads to enter the learners into the NEMIS systems so that capitation can be channelled to every pupil that deserves it.

‘We know that there is a problem with birth certificates. We encourage the local administration, especially the chiefs and the birth and death registration offices, to closely work with schools and parents so that these kids can be given birth certificates,’ he said.

‘The government has committed itself that capitation is being provided to every child, and therefore these children should be captured,’ he noted.

He also called on parents’ organisations and w
ell-wishers to support the school feeding programme, saying that the government alone cannot do it due to budget constraints.

‘I think as parents we also need to chip in in terms of giving food in kind for the kids to benefit. These are our children, and we all have a role to play in ensuring that they continue with their studies uninterrupted,’ he said.

In Garissa Township, Hyuga Girls and Bula Argi Primary Schools, which were the most affected by the floods, remain closed since the effects were severe. The students have since been transferred to the nearby Madarasa schools as a temporary measure.

Several schools, among them Young Muslim High School, Jaribu Primary, Kazuko Primary School, and NEP Technical College, were also hosting IDPs. They have, however, since been relocated to pave the way for learning to continue uninterrupted.

Garissa has the largest number of IDPs, totaling 21,770 across 12 camps. Among these are students who have been displaced from their homes.

On the issue of teachers’ shorta
ges, which has remained a point of concern from both teachers’ leadership and political leaders, Ichwara said that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) was working round the clock to address the issue, calling for patience from all stakeholders.

Adan Roble, North Eastern Regional Director of Education, said that all the schools in the region are now open and that learning was going on except for two schools, one in Garissa and another in Bura subcounty, which are still submerged in flood waters.

He said that children from the affected schools have been relocated to nearby schools where they will be hosted before the school’s infrastructure is repaired and reconstructed.

He said that in Wajir and Mandera, no school has been affected by floods.

Siyat Hussein Noor, Head Teacher at Iftin Primary, acknowledged the challenge schools in the region have had as far as acquiring birth certificates, saying this has a direct impact on school funding since they are not captured on NEMIS.

‘As a region, we are very mu
ch affected by this. Most of the schools are receiving less funds not because they don’t have the numbers in schools but because the majority are not captured on NEMIS,’ Noor said.

Noor, who is also the Kepsha Chairman of Garissa County, said that going forward, they will coordinate with other stakeholders, including the registrar of births and deaths and the chiefs, to make sure that the children get the birth certificates.

On the issue of the school feeding programme, the Head Teacher noted that it remained a big challenge since it was one of the things that mainly attracts students to go to school and expressed optimism that by next week things will be okay.

Source: Kenya News Agency

In a bid to improve the quality of healthcare in Mandera County, non-governmental organisations have stepped up to assist the county government.

The initiative received a significant boost with a donation from Action Against Hunger, in partnership with the Mandera County Government, which distributed a range of medical equipment to 18 facilities across four sub-counties.

The donated items included mother-child weighing scales, trolleys, sterilisation drums, infant-paediatric beds, nebulizers, foetal dopplers, thermometers, ward screens, examination lamps, pulse oximeters, suction machines, baby weighing scales, blood pressure machines, Ambu bags, fetoscopes, medical storage drawers, glucometers, examination beds, Mama kits, dignity kits, IEC materials, and life-straws.

The supplies were intended to enhance healthcare accessibility and strengthen the healthcare system, particularly at outreach sites and health facilities.

The equipment will be distributed in Mandera North, Mandera South, Mandera West, and
Banisa sub-counties.

The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Mohamed Ali Omar, received the items at the Mandera County Referral Hospital and expressed gratitude for Action Against Hunger’s support in improving healthcare access and outcomes for vulnerable communities.

‘Mandera County Government appreciates all NGO efforts towards improving healthcare services in the county,’ added CECM Mohamed.

The Coordinator at Action Against Hunger, Ali Bashir, emphasised that the primary aim of donating the medical items was to improve healthcare for the target community.

The healthcare system in Mandera County has been significantly impacted by recent rains, with the sub-counties of Mandera West, Kotulo, Mandera East, and Arabia being the hardest hit, affecting a total of 23 health centres.

The donation comes as a crucial support to mitigate the challenges faced by the healthcare sector in these regions.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Residents affected by floods and mudslides in Narok South have received food and non-food item donations from Nairobi Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Temple worth Sh3 million.

The consignment was flagged off by Narok County Governor Patrick Ntutu, for the residents of Narok South and the neighbouring Maasai Mau Forest who were hit by mudslides.

Nunu Shangani, Arun Rabadia, and Prakash Pindoria led the temple mission, where they donated 210 mattresses, 210 blankets, 2 and a half sacks of Crocs slippers, 200 bags of Unga of five kg each, UHC milk 360 pieces, and assorted children’s food and juices.

‘We are here to bring hope and happiness to the families affected by the heavy rains amid the disaster menace,’ said Rabadia.

According to statistics given by Narok South Deputy County Commissioner Felix Kisalu, some 11 people died and over 2000 were displaced by floods in Narok South Sub County since the heavy rains began.

The County Executive Member in Charge of Administration, Coordination of Decentralised Services
, and Disaster Management, Josephine Ngeno, said a total of 1612 households have been displaced in the upper Ololulunga and Melelo areas bordering the Maasai Mau Forest and are sheltering in nearby schools and churches.

Speaking during the food distribution, Ngeno said other affected areas are Talek (300 households), Mosiro Irrigation Scheme (158 households), Oldonyo Orasha, Esupetai and its environs (324 households), Narok Town, and Mukuru (63 households), adding to a total of 2,457 people displaced.

The governor was accompanied by Narok South MP Kitilai Ntutu, Woman Representative Rebecca Tonkei, Speaker of the County Assembly Davis Dikirr, and members of the county assembly.

Source: Kenya News Agency