Mothers and children waiting for relief food in Turkana County. [File]
Education stakeholders have called for increased support for learners from vulnerable households and arid and semi-arid areas as schools prepare to reopen in the coming weeks, warning that poverty, hunger and lack of basic learning necessities continue to keep thousands of children out of classrooms.
The stakeholders say government agencies, civil society organisations, donors and communities must work together to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent children from accessing education.
The call comes against the backdrop of concerns raised in Turkana, where local leaders say only about 20 per cent of school-going children have reported back to school, despite national directives requiring learners to resume classes regardless of school fees or uniforms.
During a visit to New Creation Children’s Home, Lizah Foundation International Director-General Elizabeth Mutuku said community and government support was critical in ensuring vulnerable children remain in school.
“If we work together as a community to educate these children, our future as a nation will be much brighter. We also urge the government to increase funding for the education sector because education is the foundation of a nation,” Mutuku said.
The concerns have heightened calls for targeted interventions ahead of the next school reopening, with education stakeholders warning that national policies must take into account the realities faced by families in arid and semi-arid areas.
Some counties across the country have initiated programs that support the school retention of pupils in lower primary schools with Nairobi Country partnering with the national government through Dishi na County.