MP Seeks to Ban Boarding Schools in Kenya

Bishop Titus Khamala, the Lurambi MP, intends to present a motion before the National Assembly calling for the elimination of boarding schools throughout Kenya. Describing this as comprehensive reform focused on enhancing local day schools and alleviating financial pressures on families, Khamala maintains that the traditional boarding system has become progressively unworkable and, in certain situations, exploitative. He suggests that funds currently allocated for boarding facilities should instead be invested in upgrading infrastructure and hiring staff at community day schools. “Many institutions have evolved into profit centers where parents face continuous demands for excessive and sometimes unapproved charges under the guise of boarding and upkeep,” Khamala stated. He pointed to recent student disturbances and dormitory fires as proof that boarding systems fail to adequately protect and care for students. The representative indicated that these occurrences reveal fundamental flaws in the boarding approach that necessitate immediate policy revision. His proposal includes enhanced science labs, library resources, classroom facilities, and teacher allocation to guarantee that all students can access quality education within their communities. Khamala also contended that home-based learning would increase parental engagement in educational matters and behavioral guidance, potentially resolving existing challenges. “When learners reside at home, parents can actively participate in their daily progress, fostering discipline and responsibility from a young age,” he explained. These comments follow a series of disturbances in secondary schools, resulting in more than 80 educational facilities being indefinitely suspended. The MP reassured pupils, parents, and other interested parties that the academic calendar will remain unchanged to prevent disruption to the majority of students. “As previously announced, we will not alter the schedule due to a small number of individuals attempting to interfere with educational activities in our schools,” he emphasized. In response to the current circumstances, the Education Ministry has assigned an extra 400 quality assurance officers to carry out evaluations at educational institutions nationwide.