The government, through the Ministry of Education, has directed the closure of boarding sections in 348 schools due to non-compliance with safety standards.
In a letter dated November 27, 2024, Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang announced that the decision followed an assessment conducted to evaluate the compliance of boarding primary schools with safety requirements.
“An assessment exercise to establish the status of compliance with safety standards for all boarding primary schools in the country was carried out in the months of September and October 2024,” the statement read in part.
The letter, addressed to regional, county, and sub-county Directors of Education, revealed that the affected schools violated safety guidelines outlined in the 2008 Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya.
“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). A total of 348 schools of those assessed were consequently not approved to host boarding learners,” the statement added.
PS Kipsang directed that the affected schools close their boarding sections immediately, with reopening contingent upon a thorough 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. Reopening 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 to make alternative arrangements for their children,” Kipsang stated.
The 2008 Safety Standards Manual for Schools, developed in partnership with Church World Service, outlines essential measures to ensure student safety. These include proper infrastructure, emergency protocols, and responsibilities for school administrators, with a focus on fire safety and emergency exits in boarding schools.
This directive follows the recent Hillside Endarasha Academy fire tragedy, which claimed the lives of 21 pupils aged between 9 and 14. The incident has amplified concerns about safety standards in schools.
