500 illegal academies to be shut in county

At least 500 private schools in Kiambu face closure for not complying with health and education regulations, a report prepared by the government shows. PHOTO/FILE

By  ANNE MACHARIA

What you need to know:

  • According to the education law, proprietors of unregistered schools face a Sh20 million fine, five years imprisonment or both if found guilty of operating an illegal school.

At least 500 private schools in Kiambu face closure for not complying with health and education regulations, a report prepared by the government shows.

According to an education officer in charge of both Kabete and Kikuyu subcounties, the academies have no facilities to teach pupils or even basic requirements like enough toilets.

“Some of the academies are just one big hall and pieces of cloth are used to divide the hall into eight classes for pupils in class one to eight. Some schools are run in living rooms and 180 pupils use one toilet,” said Kikuyu and Kabete Sub-County Education Officer Zipporah Gikambi.

Also Read

ILLEGAL SCHOOLS

She expressed concern that owners of such schools do not register them because they do not meet the criteria stipulated in the Education Act 2013.

“It was shocking to visit some schools and find Class One pupils have not written anything on their books for the last three weeks,” said Ms Gikambi.

According to the education law, proprietors of unregistered schools face a Sh20 million fine, five years imprisonment or both if found guilty of operating an illegal school.

She was speaking at Wangige Primary School on Tuesday where the Kenya Charity Sweepstake donated a cheque of Sh200, 000. The event was attended by area deputy county commissioner Elias Kitahura.

The report, she added, will be presented to the Kiambu county education board to facilitate the closure of the unregistered and substandard schools.

The education officer also lamented over the neglect of the boychild in the region.

In the headlines