Bedding and other items stashed at the corner of a classroom in Sinoni Primary and secondary school in Baringo South. School is closed and the classes are used as home to people seeking refuge from an ongoing conflict. Photo caption; By Wanjira E Wachira
By Wanjira E Wachira
MKT reporter
Worth Noting:
- The conflict is slowly killing young dreams and bringing down the efforts and investment of many people. Classes that are well built and maintained are no longer the treasure for education.
- “I want to be a lawyer to defend my people. I want to see things handled in the right way without fighting. Now, will I make it to this dream without education?
- “School felt safer because teachers would offer free sanitary pads, but now I will have to struggle. These conflicts should just be resolved by the government. I want to go back to school,” said Naireta a form two student.
- With the new system of education where CBC exams are ongoing, some students from this region will have to repeat the same grade.
Education is increasingly accepted as an integral part of humanitarian response in emergencies.
It can help restore normalcy, safeguard the most vulnerable, provide psycho-social care, promote tolerance, unify divided communities and begin the process of reconstruction and peacebuilding.
All this remains a dream at Baringo south constituency, where education is not a normal business anymore.
At Sinoni primary and secondary school, it is evident that education can be a mirage. Classes are opened but are now homestead for some families, who have sought refuge in schools.
“I was preparing to sit for the national exam this year but now it seems impossible and if I sit for the exams I might perform poorly. I am supposed to be in form three, but because of the continued conflict between my community and our neighbours, I am still in primary school.
“I feel so old to be in primary school and no longer feel like being in school. Even if I go back to school I will never catch up with my agemates,’’ says Abraham who emotionally wipes tears from his eyes.
The conflict is slowly killing young dreams and bringing down the efforts and investment of many people. Classes that are well built and maintained are no longer the treasure for education.
“I want to be a lawyer to defend my people. I want to see things handled in the right way without fighting. Now, will I make it to this dream without education?
“School felt safer because teachers would offer free sanitary pads, but now I will have to struggle. These conflicts should just be resolved by the government. I want to go back to school,” said Naireta a form two student.
With the new system of education where CBC exams are ongoing, some students from this region will have to repeat the same grade.
With no peace, exams cannot go on because even teachers fear for their safety. The conflict is a trauma to the young children who get on their toes just because of a door bang.
“I don’t know where my father is, I have not seen him around but mum keeps on saying he will come back home.
“I had already sat for one CBC exam but now I cannot continue. This war is bad,” says Julius Kimosop a young boy of 12 years.
Baringo County has been experiencing bandit attacks for many years. This is despite local leaders and state security officers organizing peace forums and campaigns.
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