Four Schools Closed in Gatundu North Due to Student Shortage

The Ministry of Education has shut down four secondary schools in Gatundu North, Kiambu County, because of insufficient student enrollment. Kamwangi, Kaibere, Miteero, and Mbichi secondary schools were closed after their student populations significantly decreased. Students from these affected institutions have been relocated to neighboring schools. Gatundu North MP Elijah Njoroge Kururia disclosed that additional schools in the constituency are at risk of closure due to low student numbers, which has escalated the operational expenses of these institutions. The lawmaker made this statement while distributing bursary checks totaling sh 29.6 million to more than 4000 students in 25 day schools across the constituency on Friday. Each beneficiary received sh 7,000. He pointed out that maintaining these institutions had become too expensive for both parents and the government, noting that in some schools, teachers have been instructing all subjects to fewer than 10 students. “When a school has only about 20 learners, each class ends up with approximately two students who must be taught every subject by all teachers. This situation is prohibitively costly and unsustainable, which is why students from such schools have been moved to other nearby educational facilities where their education continues without interruption,” Kururia explained. The MP confirmed that the remaining students have been transferred to neighboring schools where their studies have proceeded without disruption. However, he expressed alarm over the declining student population, attributing it to parents’ reluctance to have more children. He observed that young couples in the area are opting for single-child families, while those with children are neglecting their parental responsibilities. Kururia simultaneously requested interdepartmental cooperation to address this issue. He urged all school boards to reassess the situation thoroughly, identify the underlying causes of the problem, and develop solutions to this pressing challenge. “All stakeholders must collaborate to address the fundamental cause of this problem. We have numerous schools with fewer than 100 students, which indicates that in the near future, they too will face closure,” the MP stated. At the same time, the lawmaker appealed to parents to ensure their children attend classes, noting that the area NGCDF has implemented a comprehensive plan to ensure no student is left behind. He mentioned that all day secondary school students will now pay sh 1500 per term, a measure that has significantly alleviated the financial burden on many parents. “Our goal is to eventually make education in Gatundu North free so that all students can access it. As long as I serve as the area MP, the responsibility for funding our children’s education will be borne by the NGCDF,” the MP emphasized. Parents supported the MP’s views, noting that young parents today are having fewer children compared to previous generations. They called for proper parenting practices and promotion of basic education among the youth to prevent more schools from facing imminent closure. “Young couples these days are having just one child, while most young people are either delaying or avoiding marriage altogether. The child population is rapidly declining, which means that eventually, many schools will be forced to close,” said Joseph Kimani, a parent. They also commended the Gatundu North NGCDF, led by the area MP, for their timely intervention in covering school fees, noting that many families have been struggling to finance their children’s education due to the current high cost of living in the country. “The cost of living is extremely high, and many families can barely afford food, let alone pay school fees. We are grateful for this support,” said Nancy Njambi, another parent.