Nyeri: Nyeri town Member of Parliament Duncan Mathenge has joined other county leaders in calling for urgent action to address the declining rates of student enrolment in Nyeri County schools. Mathenge expressed concerns over significant inequalities in learning institutions, which he believes cast doubt on the educational standards in the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mathenge highlighted that some schools in Nyeri have fewer than 50 students, while others have a teacher population that exceeds that of the learners, leading to questions about resource utilization and the sustainability of these schools. He questioned the rationale behind employing 12 teachers in a school with less than 50 students, suggesting inefficient use of resources and calling for a discussion among leaders to address the issue.
A report released by the Nyeri County Education Board underscored the severity of the situation, revealing alarming statistics on student enrolment in public schools. The survey, conducted across all six constituencies, showed a particularly dismal picture for Senior School enrolment, with four out of six constituencies reporting low numbers. Notably, Kieni constituency reported 29 schools with fewer than 30 students, while Mathira and Tetu followed closely behind.
The report also highlighted cases where certain schools had no Grade 10 learners enrolled. For instance, Gakuyu, Gatundu, and Gaturiri Senior Schools in Mathira constituency had no Grade 10 students, a similar situation observed in Nyeri town constituency’s Ithenguri Secondary School.
Junior Schools also faced challenges, with Mukurweini having the highest number of schools with fewer than 50 learners. The report further exposed disparities in teacher distribution, with some schools having an almost equal number of teachers and learners, while others were severely understaffed.
Mathenge spoke at Raimukurwe Senior School, where he delivered a school bus as recognition for the school’s improved performance, which he noted had positively impacted student enrolment. He emphasized the need for education stakeholders and leaders to collaborate in addressing the enrolment crisis, suggesting a possible redeployment of teachers and learners to optimize resource use.
Nyeri Governor Dr. Mutahi Kahiga echoed similar concerns, urging educational stakeholders to partner in tackling the decline in learning standards. Dr. Kahiga emphasized the importance of ensuring that investments in education are fully utilized and called for an evidence-based approach to identify and address gaps in public schools.
Both Mathenge and Dr. Kahiga advocate for strengthening rather than closing underpopulated schools, focusing on revitalizing them to attract more learners. They stressed the need for collaboration among various stakeholders, including government bodies, educators, parents, and communities, to reclaim Nyeri’s legacy of academic excellence.
