RIOTS BLAMED ON DRUG ABUSE

Drug abuse, absence of role models in society and failure by leaders
to embrace dialogue when handling disputes have been cited as factors
contributing to indiscipline in schools.

A parliamentary committee investigating the recent wave of unrest in
secondary schools was told that the abuse of drugs and other
substances among students was rampant.

The parliamentary committee chaired by Mosop MP David Koech was
receiving views from Western Province at Kakamega High School. Fifteen
schools in the province were affected by the unrest.

School administrations were faulted for failing to put in place
strategies to gather intelligence and measures to improve security in
their institutions.

Some headteachers were in the dark on what was happening in their
institutions and failed to act appropriately when trouble broke out,
the committee was told.

The chairman of the provincial secondary schools heads association, Mr
Simeon Nabukwesi, said students copied the bad examples set by the
leaders and used violence to have their grievances addressed.

Mukumu Girls Secondary principal Ebby Kavai said there was fear of
being victimised by education officials for acting on students
involved in indiscipline.

"Teachers are in a dilemma whenever they are handling cases of
indiscipline because they are always intimidated by education
officials who threaten to discipline them," said Mrs Kavai.

Busia Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) branch secretary Godfrey
Odongo said some parents and students took advantage of provisions in
the Children's Act to disregard school rules.

Students told the committee that lack of channels to present their
grievances to school administrators fuelled strikes in the
institutions.

Holiday tuition

Meanwhile, the parliamentary committee has criticised the decision by
Education minister Sam Ongeri to ban holiday tuition.

Mr Koech said the minister acted in haste and failed to consult key
players before banning tuition.

He said the ban could affect performance in national examinations in
areas affected by the post-poll violence.

"The decision by the minister is unacceptable and amounts to
pre-empting the work of my committee," said Mr Koech.