Lamu Learners in Terror-Prone Areas Await School Reopening Amidst Devastating Floods
Learners residing in terror-prone regions of Lamu County are facing further disruptions to their education as they are unable to attend school due to severe flooding.
Mokowe Arid Zone Primary School, the only educational facility in the area, remains inaccessible as it is marooned by rising waters.
Over 700 students, ranging from Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) to Grade 8 candidates, have been affected by the prolonged closure of the school, even though the second term commenced on May 8.
Mokowe Arid Zone Primary School was established in 1992 with the specific aim of providing education to learners from underprivileged communities such as the Bonis, Sanye, and Orma residing in Lamu County.
Since 2014, the school has served as a refuge for over 300 Boni learners after their villages’ five schools were forced to shut down due to attacks by the extremist group al Shabaab.
The militants torched and vandalized Basuba, Milimani, Mangai, Mararani, and Kiangwe primary schools, forcing teachers to flee for their safety.
Due to the precarious security situation, Boni learners have had to be transported to Mokowe Arid Zone Primary School by air or boat.
The main road connecting their villages to the rest of Lamu has been frequently targeted by Shabaab militants, who plant explosives to target security vehicles and sometimes civilians.
As a result, the school has 716 pupils, with more than 200 of them hailing from the terror-prone Basuba ward along the Kenya-Somalia border.
Joshua Kaaga, the Lamu County Education Director, confirmed the continued closure of the school, attributing it to the poor drainage of feeder roads in the area, which led to flooding on the school premises.
The proximity of the trenches to the school compound resulted in water being directed into the school when heavy rains occurred.
Consequently, the school remains flooded and unfit for use, causing all students to stay away during the second term.
Kaaga mentioned that the water levels were gradually receding, and if they dry up completely, the school might reopen the following week.
Parents of the affected students have appealed to the government to establish temporary classrooms in the vicinity, allowing their children to continue their education while waiting for the floods to subside.
The recurring logistical challenges faced by parents in terror-prone areas have resulted in their children consistently reporting to school late after each holiday.
Previously, insecurity along the roads was the primary reason for delayed school openings, but now flooding has compounded the issue.
The parents expressed their frustration that while the rest of the country’s children are attending classes, their own children have been at home for three weeks.
Lamu Learners in Terror-Prone Areas Await School Reopening Amidst Devastating Floods
