Discrimination: Uproar in Bungoma over upgrade of provincial schools to national schools

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-05-18 19:49:00 Read 478 Times

Friends School Kamusinga students celebrate for topping Western province in the 2010 KCSE exams. [Photo/Wanyonyi wa Wasike] BUNGOMA COUNTY:  A number of citizens from Bungoma County oppose the upgrading of Lugulu Girls and Friends School Kamusinga, the best performing provincial schools in Western province to National schools. This is a move by the Secondary Schools Heads Association in full support with the Ministry of Education in selecting top performing schools from the eight provinces to a face lift. Bungoma residents Wednesday in an interview with West FM opposed this proposal basing on the fact that the two schools have been the back bone of education stands in the region owing to the fact that other schools emulate them. Being the top in the province they were admitting about 60 per cent of the students from the area and this adjustment would be a set back towards that. They argue that making them National schools will mean opening them up for students from all over the country that will face out students in the region due to stiff competition. The Public Affairs and Communications Specialist Mr. Wabwoba Mukhamule Walinywa opposed the move stating that upgrading the schools will mean losing a lot in education. Once they are nationalized they will have high pressure from across the country and this will lead to decline in performance. “Upgrading the two schools to national schools will mean denying a chance to our students as the schools may only take a small number from this area.” Said Mr. Wabwoba He proposed that the government should get an upcoming local school and fund and develop it into a national school instead of taking already established schools  “The two schools have taken a lot of support to get them to where they are therefore; it is not fair for the government to set aside and wait for well developed schools to turn into national schools but instead it should develop its own national schools from scratch,” said Mr. Wabwoba Public Affairs and Communications Specialist Mr. Wabwoba Mukhamule Walinywa. The residents questioned the move by the government, wondering whether it had put in place other provincial schools to replace the two schools. If not then, most students from the region are bound to miss secondary school opportunities an issue that may lead to underdevelopment in the region. “Is the government going to bring other schools to replace the schools it intends to upgrade as there will be a big gap left in the education sector of the region?” said Mr.Barasa, a taxi driver in Bungoma. To other residents it was a good move and they applauded the government for saving them the miles they have to travel to take their children to national schools that are mostly in the city. “We really appreciate what the Government has done to upgrade our two best performing schools to national schools. We always have to travel from here to the city to take our children to national schools in Nairobi which is very expensive,” said Mr. Mukhwana a boda boda rider in Bungoma. Earlier, Speaking at Kibuk Girls High School in Mt Elgon District, Bungoma County, during the district Education Day, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of education Pro. James Ole Kiyapi had disclosed that the government had planned to have 30 new National schools next year that will go along way making it possible for 7,800 students joining National schools next year up from 4,200 this year.   “This will ensure that every child who gets almost 400 marks and above gets a place in National school and bring to an end a row between public and private schools as it was experienced this year,’’ he said. Further, the PS said all this was aimed at ensuring cohesion among different communites. "The current national schools were established in pre-independent Kenya for the colonialist’s children. What we want is to change this mindset. We want all Kenyans to also travel to other parts of the country to interact with others," he said. Schools were selected from different counties and will each receive Sh25 million for infrastructure upgrading, and be ready to take in more students next year. Kakamega Boys, Lugulu Girls, Bunyore Girls, Friends Kamusinga are among 30 provincial schools nationwide elevated to a national status in all the 47 counties in the country.