NAIROBI, Kenya — Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has directed school principals and teachers to embrace dialogue rather than coercion in dealing with students amid a wave of unrest that has disrupted learning in several schools across the country.
Speaking as the government moves to contain incidents of arson, property destruction, and student protests reported over the past three weeks, Bitok said school administrators should engage learners in discussions instead of forcing them to sit examinations.
“We have told school principals and teachers: do not force students to take exams. Negotiate with them. If students are not ready, and you believe an exam — whether it is a Mock or a Continuous Assessment — is causing problems, then speak with them,” he said.
Mock Exams Identified as a Trigger
The PS singled out mock examinations and Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) as among the issues fueling tensions in some institutions.
He urged Boards of Management and school administrators to consider postponing examinations where necessary and engage students to understand their concerns.
“Mock examinations are creating tension in our schools. We have asked the Boards of Management and school management to consider even temporarily postponing them,” Bitok said.
According to the PS, postponing an examination is preferable to risking violence, destruction of property, or closure of schools.
“Ni afadhali mtihani uhairishwe, kuliko kulazimisha hawa kufika asubuhi wamechoma shule,” he said.
Translated, the statement means it is better to postpone an examination than force students into a situation that could lead to schools being set ablaze.
‘Students Must Be Heard’
Bitok called for a change in how schools relate to learners, arguing that today’s students require engagement and understanding rather than authoritarian approaches.
“Lazima tuwaskize hawa wanafunzi. Pia wao wako na mambo ya kusema,” he said, urging school administrators to listen to students and understand their concerns.
The remarks signal a shift toward a more consultative approach to student management at a time when education officials are seeking solutions to recurring unrest in schools.
Government Orders National Audit
As part of broader intervention measures, the State Department for Basic Education has ordered a nationwide audit of all boarding schools over the next 10 days to assess compliance with safety standards and identify potential risks.
Bitok also announced the deployment of 1,000 quality assurance officers across the country to support monitoring and response efforts.
The government hopes the measures will strengthen safety systems and improve communication between school administrations and learners.
School Calendar Will Remain Unchanged
Despite calls from some quarters for adjustments to the academic calendar, Bitok ruled out any changes, insisting that unrest is affecting only a small fraction of the country’s learning institutions.
“99.2 pc of our schools are safe. Learning is going on well. Less than 80 schools around the country are the ones which have a problem,” he said.
The PS noted that Kenya has more than 52,000 schools, arguing that the challenges experienced in a limited number of institutions do not justify altering the national calendar.
“We are not going to change the term dates because of 80 schools out of 52,000 schools,” he stated.
He further directed County Directors of Education to remain firm in enforcing government policy, emphasizing that significant public investment in education requires decisive leadership and continuity in learning.
The government has also appealed to parents to strengthen guidance and counselling at home and support student leadership structures as part of efforts to address the underlying causes of unrest and maintain stability in schools.
