The Ministry of Education has directed the closure of boarding sections in 348 primary schools for non-compliance with safety standards.
According to a circular by the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Basic Education Belio Kipsang dated November 27, 2024, the institutions grossly contravened the provisions of the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya (2008).
“An assessment exercise to establish the status of compliance to safety standards for all boarding primary schools in the country was carried out in the months of September and October 2024. The assessment established that some institutions grossly contravened the provisions of the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya (2008),” Kipsang stated.
Boarding safety standards
According to the government assessment, the schools did not adhere to the standards as prescribed in the Registration Guidelines for Basic Education Institutions (2021).
A total of 348 schools of those assessed were consequently not approved to host learners.
“The purpose of this circular therefore is to direct you to close down the boarding sections of all schools within your jurisdiction that were not approved as per the attached list. Re-opening of the boarding sections should strictly be upon a re-registration process. You are required to ensure that affected parents are informed in good time for them to make alternative arrangements for their children.”
